The Mountain Lakes Public Library Makerspace Policy

3D Printer Use and Access

The Makerspace’s 3D printers were acquired through grant funding and are therefore designated for the specific programs, educational activities, and approved projects for which the grant funding was awarded. As grant-funded equipment, the 3D printers are not available for unrestricted or general public use.

Priority for use will be given to Makerspace programs, classes, workshops, educational initiatives, and projects that align with the intended purpose of the grant funding. Requests for use outside of these activities may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to equipment availability, grant requirements, staff approval, and applicable Makerspace and Library policies.

Adult patrons may register for an available, designated time slot to work with a Makerspace staff member to prepare a 3D print for production. Preparation may include reviewing the print file, selecting appropriate print settings, and preparing the file for the Makerspace’s 3D printer. A $10 fee will be charged for this service. Registration and payment of the fee do not guarantee that a print will be approved or produced. All print requests remain subject to staff review, equipment availability, grant requirements, applicable law, and Library policy.

Students in grades 1–12 may use the Makerspace’s 3D printers by appointment with Makerspace staff. There is no fee for 3D printing services provided to students in grades 1–12. Student use must be supervised by Makerspace staff and is subject to equipment availability, staff approval, applicable law, grant requirements, and Library policy. Students may directly contact the Makerspace staff for an appointment: info@mountainlakeslibrary.org.

Makerspace staff reserve the right to limit, deny, or schedule access to the 3D printers to ensure compliance with grant requirements and to preserve the equipment for its intended programmatic purposes.

All 3D printing will be supervised by a Mountain Lakes Public Library Makerspace staff member. Staff will review the 3D designs using a 3D slicer application to ensure proper printing. Patrons may not independently operate, start, modify, or monitor a 3D printer without staff supervision. 

Patrons should have no expectation of privacy regarding objects, models, files, or other materials submitted for, or produced through, the Makerspace’s 3D printing program. 3D print objects may be handled, viewed, stored, displayed, photographed, or otherwise accessed by Makerspace staff and other authorized individuals as necessary for operation, maintenance, instruction, quality control, or program purposes. Patrons should not submit materials that they consider confidential, sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise requiring privacy or restricted access.

Lawful Use

The Makerspace will produce only objects that are lawful to possess, manufacture, or distribute under applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Makerspace reserves the right to review, reject, or discontinue any print request that it reasonably believes may violate applicable law, Library policy, or the rights of others. Patrons are solely responsible for ensuring that submitted designs and requested objects comply with all applicable laws, including laws concerning intellectual property, prohibited items, weapons, and other regulated materials. The Makerspace will not 3D print any object that is:

• Prohibited by local, state or federal law.
• Unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others. (Such use may violate the terms of use of the 3D printer design software.)
• Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment (see Library policy).
• In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. For example, the printers will not be used to reproduce materials that are subject to copyright, patent or trademark protection.

3D Print Parameters

• 3D prints may take up to 5 business days to print. Patrons will be notified via email when their print is available for pick-up. 
• Patrons can select from color and material from currently available filaments.
• Patrons can multi-color print with up to 4 colors, provided the print:
  • Does not have more than 75 color changes
• The Makerspace is not liable for any malfunctions or misprints and cannot guarantee the quality of any design or print job.
• The Makerspace is not responsible for any print post-processing.
  • Final 3D prints may include support structures which need to be removed by the patron.