http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/3d_printer_policy

3-D Printing in Libraries: Policies & Best Practices

All libraries providing access to 3-D printers should adopt written policies governing the use of their 3-D printers. Such policies should:

identify those eligible to use the library's 3-D printer;
outline all rules and regulations concerning user access, fees, and training requirements;
bar use of the library's 3-D printing facilities for illegal activities;
include a statement informing users that all other library policies apply when using the library's 3-D printer or printing services, including policies addressing user behavior, acceptable use, cybersecurity, copyright, intellectual freedom and user privacy.

Policies can also include a specific provision requiring users to comply with all applicable laws, including laws governing copyright and the manufacture of regulated or illegal items.

Though policies, by necessity, must address concerns about access, potential misuse, and liability, policies should also reflect the library's commitment to learning and the exploration of ideas. A mission statement or statement of purpose should encourage users to learn about new technologies, exercise their imaginations, and assure their freedom to create, and design new projects within the parameters imposed by the technology.

Listed below are resources created by ALA and its members that provide guidance on developing effective policies and best practices for managing makerspaces and 3-D printers in libraries. We have also included other publications that offer both general information about 3-D printing as well as information about policy development for 3-D printers.

ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom or ALA's Washington Office Public Policy staff can consult with individual libraries on policy development, depending on the questions or issues raised by the library.

August 2018 Update: Recently, the U.S. State Department entered into a settlement agreement that would have allowed Defense Distributed, a non-profit advocacy group, to post and make available downloadable instructions and templates for printing guns and gun parts on 3-D printers. On July 31, 2018, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik granted a temporary restraining order barring Defense Distributed from posting their files online. On Monday, August 27, Judge Lasnik issued an order reaffirming and extending the nationwide injunction barring the online dissemination of files for printing plastic weapons. The injunction will remain in place until the state attorney generals' case is resolved. (Attorney generals from 19 states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit to set aside the settlement agreement or to prevent Defense Distributed from posting their files online.)

Libraries should be aware that the settlement agreement allowing online distribution of the plans is not binding on libraries and does not confer a right to use those plans to create guns on library 3-D printers in violation of library policy or in violation of the applicable law regulating the manufacture or distribution of guns in the United States. This includes the law that makes it illegal to create, or assist in the creation, of a gun that is undetectable by x-ray machines or metal detectors.

These materials are not a legal opinion nor should they be regarded as legal advice. Readers should consult their own legal counsel for legal advice regarding their particular situation.

Resources for 3-D Printer Policy Development:

Progress in the Making: 3D Printing Policy Considerations through the Library Lens | ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (2015) (includes the sidebar "3D Printing, Intellectual Freedom and Library Values.") (2015)

Progress in the Making: An Introduction to 3-D Printing and Public Policy | ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (2014)

3D Printing in Libraries: A View from Within the American Library Association: Privacy, Intellectual Freedom and Ethical Policy Framework | Bulletin of the Association for Information Science and Technology (2015)

Copyright Considerations for Providing 3D Printing Services in the Library |Bulletin of the Association for Information Science and Technology (2015)

The Library's Legal Answers for Makerspaces, by Tomas Lipinski and Mary Minow | ALA Editions (2016)

Libraries Make Space For 3-D Printers; Rules Are Sure to Follow | NPR (April 2015)

3D Printers and Library Policy: Cool Technology Needs Rules Too | TechSoup for Libraries (2014)

3-D Printers: General Information

3-D Printers for Libraries, 2017 Edition, by Jason Griffey | Library Technology Reports

Progress in the Making: Librarians' Practical 3D Printing Questions Answered | ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (2016)

Toward A More Printed Union: Library 3D Printing Democratizes Creation | ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (2015)

Sample 3-D Printing Policies:

District of Columbia Public Library

Glen Carbon Centennial Library (IL)

Glen Ellyn Library (IL)

Jacksonville Public Library (FL)

Keene Public Library (NH)

Kirkwood Public Library (MO)

Meriden Public Library (CT)

Northbrook Public Library (IL)

Plano Public Library (TX)

Sacramento Public Library (CA)Idaho State University - Oboler Library

Michigan State University Libraries

Parkland College (IL)

Purdue University Libraries (IN)

University of Massachusetts - Amherst

University of Northern Iowa – Rod Library

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Guidelines

The staff of the Rochester Hills Public Library (RHPL) provide 3D printing to the community based on procedures as follows.

Procedures

The library reserves the right to limit the materials that can be used to print an item. The primary material provided will be PLA, but other materials may include: PLA, wood filled filaments, Polyester (Tritan), PETT, bronze, copper, stainless steel-filed filaments, Polycarbonate, Nylon, PETG, conductive PLA and ABS, UV luminescent filaments, PCTPE, Pc-ABS, and Alloy 910. These other materials may be approved upon request and the customer must supply the materials.
The library staff will determine whether or not a print can be completed.
Printed items are priced based upon finished weight. The current price is $0.20 /gram. Users will also incur a fee of 50 cents per hour beginning atfour hours. Every effort will be made to verify print and pricing within two business days of submittal. Payment for materials must be received before the item is printed.
3D printing done in relation to an official library program is free
Maximum print size is 280 mm x 280 mm x 250 mm (11.02 inches x 11.02 inches x 9.8 inches).
Any 3D drafting software may be used to create a design as long as the file can be saved in: .stl, or .obj, file format.
Persons wanting to use the 3D printer shall bring their file (no larger than 25MB) to the adult services desk during regular library hours. Staff will add the model to the printing queue.
The files will be readied for printing in Cura or other authorized software. The library will view all files in Cura or other authorized software before printing.
If there is high demand, the library will scheduled only one print per day per person or entity.
Items may be picked up at the adult services desk. It is sometimes difficult to estimate exact print times. Staff will make an educated guess about the length of a job upon request.
Staff will notify customers when their print job is complete. All files will be deleted from the system at that time. Projects which are not picked up within fourteen calendar days following notification, will not be retained. Refunds are not permitted.

Implemented:

Policy Statement

The library offers 3D printers so the community can access new or emerging technology that encourages the design and creation of innovative projects.

Regulations

The Library’s 3D printer is available only for lawful purposes subject to any condition set forth in this policy or any other library policy. The public will not be permitted to use the 3D printer to create material that is:

Prohibited by local, state, or federal law or regulation.
In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. The patron will be responsible for compliance with all intellectual property laws, including patent, trade dress, trademark and copyright laws. Responsibility for possible copyright or any other intellectual property infringement lies solely with the user and the Rochester Hills Public Library disclaims any responsibility or liability resulting there from. The person requesting to use the 3D printer is liable for any infringement. All patrons using the 3D printer must sign the Library’s waiver and release regarding intellectual property rights.

The Library reserves the right to:

Review and approve all materials before printing. If there is a problem with the design and/or production, the patron will be informed. The Library cannot guarantee that a print job will be completed at a particular time.
Stop printing a request due to time or printer capabilities.
Set a limit as to the maximum amount of time a print job may take.
Limit the number of print requests.

The library is not responsible for any damage, loss, or security of data arising from the use of its computers or network, nor the functionality or quality of content produced on the 3D printer.
The library will charge fees to cover the cost of printing materials.
Approval and payment of the total fee is due before an item is printed.
Only designated library staff and volunteers will have hands-on-access to the 3D printer.

Approved:

Rochester Hills Public Library Board of Trustee

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3D Printing Policy

Adopted by the [Library Name] Library Board of Trustees, [Date]

Purpose
The [Library Name] Library Board of Trustees desires to offer community access to new and emerging technologies such as 3D printers to inspire a new interest in design and help the community to bring their creations to life. This policy establishes how and under what circumstances the public may use the Library’s 3D printers. This is a staff mediated service and is available on a first come, first served basis.

Guidelines
The Library’s 3D printers are available to the public to make three-dimensional objects in plastic using a design that is uploaded from a digital computer file.
The Library’s 3D printers may be used only for lawful purposes. The public will not be permitted to use the Library’s 3D printers to create material that include the following restrictions.

Items that are prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
Items that are unsafe, harmful, dangerous, or pose an immediate threat to the well-being of animals or people. Such use may violate the terms of use of the manufacturer.
Items that are obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment, at the discretion of the Library Director or designee.
Items that are a violation of another’s intellectual property rights. Printers will not be used to reproduce material that is subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection.

Library staff will review every object file before it is printed. The Library reserves the right to refuse any 3D print request.

The nature of 3D printing does not allow complete guest privacy, but the library will not share information about a guest’s legal activities with third parties.

By submitting objects for printing, guests assume all responsibility for, and shall hold the Library harmless in, all matters related to patented, trademarked, or copyrighted materials.

3D printing at the Library is available at the current cost per gram of filament used for the print. Before a print is released to the guest, they must have any and all 3D print invoices paid in full. Guests using the service shall not be charged for prints that fail due to hardware or software malfunction or error.

Only designated Library staff will have hands-on access to the 3D printer.

Appealing a Denial of Print
Appeals of the denial of a print request may be made to the [Library Name] Library Board of Trustees.

Amendment of Rules
The Board of Trustees of the [Library Name] Library reserves the right to review and amend this policy at any time.

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Jonesville District Library

3-D Printer Policy

Purpose: This policy governs the use of the Jonesville District Library’s 3-D Printer.

Policy:

The Jonesville District Library’s 3-D printer is available for making three-dimensional plastic objects using a design that is uploaded form a digital computer file under the supervision of a trained staff member on a first come, first served basis.

All JDL policies apply to the use of the 3-D printer, including but not restricted to: computer usage policies and patron behavior policies.

Jonesville District Library’s 3-D printer may only be used for lawful purposes. The public will not be permitted to use the library’s 3-D printer to create material that is:

Prohibited by local, state, or federal law
Unsafe, harmful, dangerous or poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others or animals. (Such use may violate the terms of use of the manufacturer.)
Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment.
In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. For example, the printers will not be used to reproduce material that is subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection.
3-D printing on Jonesville District Library equipment is not for commercial purpose.

The Jonesville District Library reserves the right to refuse the production of any content at any time at the discretion of library staff. Examples of objects that will not be produced include, but are not limited to:

Objects that are illegal or harmful to minors
Any object that is threatening, abusive, torturous, obscene, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable
Objects that can be used as drug paraphernalia
Objects larger than the printing plate

Jonesville District Library is not responsible for minor defects or imperfections in the printed product.

Procedures:

Cost: The Jonesville District Library will charge $.50 per 15 minutes for each printed object. Printing during a library-sponsored 3-D printing event will not be subject to charges. Specialty filaments will be charged at a higher rate as agreed upon by the library director and patron.

Design: Patrons may use design software installed on Jonesville District Library computers or design their project elsewhere and save to a device. All designs must comply with all copyright, patent, and trademark laws. Designs may also be available from various file-sharing databases such as Thingiverse.com.

Printing: Patrons must check with trained library staff before submitting a print project. Filament changes and settings must be set before printing. All projects must be uploaded into the Cura program used for 3-D printing. Projects must be paid for before printing begins.

Note: procedures governing the use of Jonesville District Library’s 3-D printer are subject to change.

Notice Concerning Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproductions is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use”, that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

Jonesville District Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright or other intellectual property laws.

By submitting objects for printing, the patron assumes all responsibility for, and shall hold the Jonesville District Library harmless in, all matters related to patented, trademarked, or copyrighted materials.

Jonesville District Library

Official Policy April 15, 2019