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Makerspace Policy
 

Purpose

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The Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield (PLJCS) provides a Makerspace lab to support its mission to identify and meet the informational, educational, and technological needs and interests of our community, foster connections, support literacy, and provide services that enrich citizenship in a welcoming environment. The following policies and procedures govern the use of the PLJCS Makerspace. 

 

Patrons wishing to use the Makerspace or any equipment contained within it must read and sign this policy before they may do so.


 

Policy

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The Makerspace may only be used for lawful purposes. The public is prohibited from using the Makerspace equipment 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 (such use may violate the terms of use of the manufacturer);

  • Abusive, intimidating, disrespectful, racially charged, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate for the library environment;

  • In violation of another’s intellectual property rights. For example, the equipment may not be used to reproduce material that is subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection

 

Patrons may not modify the hardware or software, or install new programs onto the Makerspace's computers or Chromebooks.

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PLJCS reserves the right to halt, delete, or disallow the creation of items that violate Library policies, including the creation of weapons, obscene materials, or illegal items.

 

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Procedures

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  • Patrons must have a valid PLJCS library card in good standing to use the Makerspace.

  • To request access to the Makerspace, patrons must have a library card in good standing or obtain a library card. *

  • Patrons aged 16 and up may use the Makerspace independently. Patrons aged 15 and under may use the Makerspace if supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

  • The makerspace can be utilized by any of the Johnston County Affiliated Libraries' branches.

  • Patrons must attend a mandatory safety and training certification class in order to use the laser cutter/engraver, 3D printer, vinyl printer, recording studio, multimedia studio, and any future tools/equipment acquired by PLJCS that are determined to require such training.

  • Each piece of equipment has a separate mandatory training class focusing specifically on that equipment, which must be attended once. Afterwards, the patron’s certification will be on file. Please note that the first session will be limited to the training and safety of the equipment.

  • Patrons must attend these training sessions in person. 

  • When using a tool that does not require specific training, the patron is certifying that they are capable of using that tool or equipment safely and properly.

  • Makerspace equipment may not be left unattended while in use; a patron aged 16 or older must stay with it at all times.

  • PLJCS is not responsible for the loss or damage of personal property or files.

  • Any accidents, including damage to PLJCS property, must be reported immediately. The patron agrees that if any equipment becomes unsafe or in a state of disrepair, they must immediately discontinue the use of the equipment and notify staff.

  • Library staff members are happy to assist Makerspace users as time permits. The staff has limited availability to provide this assistance on demand. 

  • Food and drinks are not permitted in the Makerspace.

  • The library seeks to recoup material costs by charging fees based on material and machine maintenance costs plus North Carolina sales tax. These fees are subject to change. Please consult the fee schedule on our website for current rates.

  • Staff must approve all patron-supplied materials before they are used on machines to reduce the risk of damage to machines or harm to patrons within the Makerspace. Only library-approved materials will be utilized on any equipment.

  • The patron is responsible for paying any costs for use of machines, materials, and supplies provided by PLJCS, and for all loss or damage to PLJCS property or clean-up expenses. The patron agrees to accept staff assessment of fair restitution for damage, dirtiness, delinquency, and/or loss of items in part or in total.

  • PLJCS is not responsible if a project is destroyed, does not print correctly, or does not work. The patron understands that PLJCS is not responsible for any manufacturing defects or the quality of workmanship of any of the tools, materials, or equipment supplied by the library.

  • Patrons will not modify the Makerspace’s hardware or software, or install new programs onto the computers.

  • Library equipment cannot be removed from the Makerspace by anyone other than library staff.

  • When reserving the Makerspace or its equipment, scheduled Library programs have priority, followed by patrons who have made a reservation ahead of time.

  • PLJCS reserves the right to display photographs of printed objects on the library’s website and social media. Special consideration for patent or copyright reasons will be considered by the Library Director.

  • Please ensure all work is completed, equipment is turned off, and the work area is cleaned before the end of the session. Work on the equipment should conclude, the area cleaned, and the workstation restored 15 minutes prior to the end of a reservation time. 

  • PLJCS reserves the right to deny Makerspace access if a patron violates any part of the Makerspace or any other PLJCS policy, or for any other misuse of the space, as determined by library staff.

  • If Makerspace tools or equipment break, or if any accidents occur while using the Makerspace, alert Library staff immediately.

  • Any projects or items created within this space that are not picked up by one week will be considered property of the library and could be discarded or disposed of unless otherwise noted.​

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The Library reserves the right to change this policy at any time.

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Guidelines

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  • Follow all safety guidelines and exercise caution with all Makerspace equipment. 

  • PLJCS is not responsible for any injuries caused by improper use of equipment, damage to a patron’s files, or any manufacturer’s defects. 

  • All work saved on Library computers will be deleted at the end of each session. Patrons must save files to an external storage device. 

  • Be respectful of other patrons, and do not disrupt someone’s work. Be sure to clean your work area and all equipment before leaving. 

  • Patrons must read and sign the Library’s Makerspace liability waiver before use. 


 

Makerspace Agreement (to be signed at library)

 

By signing this Policy, I indicate that I understand and agree to the terms of this Policy and Procedure and agree to abide by it when using the equipment. 


 

__________________________________________________         __________________________

Maker’s Signature                                                                               Date 

 

__________________________________________________         __________________________

Library Card Number                                                                  Email address 



 

Parent or Legal Guardian’s Signature (if under 18) 

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_________________________________________________           ___________________________

Signature                                                                                               Date​​​

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                             Approved by the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield Board of Trustees on 05/18/2026.

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