American Library Association Recommending Guidelines for 3D-Printer Use in Public Libraries
- BY Sandra Helsel
- Apr 30, 2015
- 1 min read
Source: www.inside3dprinting.com, www.npr.org
The American Library Association said there are more than 250 libraries across the country that have at least one 3D printer. “It’s actually part of a larger trend,” said the ALA’s Sari Feldman. She says libraries large and small across the United States are setting up so-called “maker spaces,” offering increasingly sophisticated hardware and software, including studio production equipment, design software, and in some cases, even laser cutters.
Feldman says the possibilities that come with cheap, user-friendly 3D printers have also created a new gray area in setting library policy. The ALA has recommended guidelines for libraries to address concerns about safety, access and liability. Click here to see the ALA publication “3D Printer Warning Notice for Libraries.” Some local libraries have established rules on their own. For example, at the Pope County Library System in central Arkansas, new restrictions have been placed on its two printers. They include printing objects that are prohibited by law or deemed obscene or otherwise inappropriate.
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