Updated: October 2025

1. Scheduling
   1. Reservations require mandatory training and related equipment badge. Prior to making a reservation, all patrons interested in using Makerspace equipment are required to attend a one-time, free orientation class for each machine they plan to reserve and earn the related HCPL Maker Badge for the machine. Training and/or orientation may be taken at any HCPL location.
   2. Reservation requests are moderated. You will be contacted within 2 business days of your request. Your request is not confirmed until you (a.) complete the mandatory equipment training, (b.) have a verified HCPL Maker Badge for the equipment and/or machine reservation under review, and (c.) receive official confirmation from the library.
      • Patrons will be notified via email about reservation confirmations, denials, and/or cancellations. In cases of unforeseen cancellations or denials, less than 24 hours from a scheduled appointment, library staff will also attempt to reach the patron via text at the patron's provided phone number. This courtesy cannot be guaranteed depending on circumstances at hand. 
   3. Reservations are limited.
      • Creator Equipment (all equipment excluding 3D Printers): Limited to 2 hours max—per person, per day—and may be reserved up to one (1) week in advance (excluding a 2-day reservation moderation period). Limited to three (3) reservations per month, per individual.
      • 3D Printing Equipment: Limited to one (1) print job per day, per printer—and may be reserved up to one (1) week in advance (excluding a 2-day reservation moderation period). Limited to three (3) reservations per month, per individual.
   4. Age Requirements. Open to the community at-large with applicable age registrations. Maker services are available to patrons, ages 14+, with age restrictions to ensure safety precautions are being taken. 
      • Adults (ages 18+): May reserve any equipment in the Makerspace lab.
      • Teens (ages 14-17): May use or operate Makerspace equipment under the direct supervision of the adult (age 18+) who made the reservation. The adult must present in the lab during the entire reservation booking time. No exceptions.
      • Ages13 or younger: Not allowed in the Makerspace lab unless under the direct supervision of library personnel during an official library program and/or event. No exceptions.
   5. Patrons are required to schedule reservations via LSC-CyFair Library's LibCal reservation system (NOT via the HCPL system). Patrons are encouraged to contact library staff if there are issues accessing the online reservation system.
   6. Patron priority is based on a first come, first served basis based on reservations submitted through the LibCal Makerspace reservation system. Priority will be given to library programs and activities and is subject to staff availability. 
2. Mandatory Training/Orientation
   1. All patrons who will use and/or operate Makerspace equipment must complete mandatory, in-person, training for each piece of equipment they plan to use—BEFORE submitting a Makerspace reservation for that equipment.
   2. Patrons must successfully complete the training/orientation and earn the related HCPL Maker Badge—BEFORE submitting a Makerspace reservation for that equipment.
   3. Training, also called Orientation at some locations, may be taken or attended at any HPCL branch offering the required equipment training, even if it's not the Makerspace location where the patron plans on submitting a reservation.
3. ALL Lab Equipment and Machine Usage
   1. Only patrons identified on a confirmed reservation may be in the lab at the time of the reservation. No additional patrons may enter the lab unless at the direction of official library personnel.
   2. All patrons in the lab must be specifically named on the reservation AND have completed the mandatory training for the equipment reserved, earned the required equipment badge, and received official confirmation from the library.
   3. Only the specific equipment reserved and confirmed may be used. Use of any other equipment in the lab is strictly prohibited.
   4. Patrons must begin cleaning up and vacating the lab at least 15 minutes before their reservation end time. The room configuration and/or equipment station should be returned to its original setup.
   5. No food or drink allowed in the lab. No exceptions.
   6. A signed liability waiver is required of all patrons ages 18+ using the lab and/or the equipment and machines therein. A signed liability waiver is required of all patrons ages 14-17, including the signature of the parent or guardian accompanying them. The parent(s) or guardian(s), age 18+, are fully responsible for any minors under their supervision. 
   7. Maker labs are intended to provide access to maker equipment. Patrons are expected to design and complete their own project. Staff will be present to facilitate machine operation only and are not responsible for file creation or file modifications.
   8. The library reserves the right to share any patron projects created in the lab and/or made on the library’s equipment—on library marketing materials and/or social media channels.
4. Individual Machine Policies
   1. 3D Printer
      1. Patrons, ages 14-17, must be accompanied by a badged parent or guardian for 3D printer use.
      2. 3D printers may only be used with filament provided by the branch Friends of the Library. For safety and to avoid potential damage to the machines, patrons may not bring and/or use alternative filament.
      3. Payment for printed objects (10¢ /gram) is collected by the Friends of the Library to reimburse the cost of filament and machine maintenance.
      4. Patrons are not required to stay for the duration of a print job once the print successfully begins. Patrons are responsible, however, for coming to the library to retrieve and pay for their objects once completed.
      5. Except in cases of mechanical failure, objects failing to fully print, errors in the print process, or other factors not in a patron’s control, patrons are expected to pay for completed objects and may not request a new print in place of the original due to dissatisfaction with color, scale, quality, design, required support material, or other options pre-selected by the patron.
      6. Objects printed with a raft, supports or brim will be weighed for final cost before their removal.
      7. Objects unclaimed after 7 days may be discarded or recycled.
      8. Printing cannot be scheduled to begin within one-hour prior to closing.
      9. Overnight prints are subject to the discretion and approval of branch staff.
   2. Laser Cutter/Etcher
      1. Patrons, ages 14-17, must be accompanied by a badged parent or guardian for Laser machine use.
      2. Patrons must remain at the laser while it is in operation. The laser must not be left unattended while in use.
      3. Patrons are required to provide their own materials.
      4. Laser cutting machines require careful review of materials to ensure safe operation. All materials used in the laser cutter/etcher must be approved by Lab Staff.Upon inspection, use of material may be denied at staff discretion.
      5. For patron and machine safety, PVC or chloride-containing materials are specifically prohibited.
      6. Please note that our machines do not cut metal or glass.
      7. Material costs are not reimbursed. The Library is not responsible for failed jobs or material damaged by the laser cutter.
      8. Patrons can reserve two hours of machine time. However, as the schedule allows, time may be extended based on the availability of equipment and Lab Staff. Use of enclosed systems may not exceed three hours to allow for the system to cool down.
      9. Reservations cannot be scheduled within 30 minutes of location closing time. Additionally, laser cutter jobs cannot begin within 30 minutes of location closing time.
   3. Vinyl Cutter, Cricut, & Heat Press
      1. Patrons, ages 14-17, must be accompanied by a badged parent or guardian to use the vinyl cutter and heat press.
      2. Patrons must remain with the vinyl cutter and heat press while it is in operation. The vinyl cutter and heat press must not be left unattended while in use.
      3. Patrons are required to provide their own materials.
      4. Vinyl cutting machines and heat presses require careful review of materials to ensure safe operation. All materials used in the vinyl cutter and heat press must be approved by Lab Staff. Upon inspection, use of material may be denied at staff discretion.
      5. Material costs are not reimbursed. The Library is not responsible for failed jobs or materials damaged by the vinyl cutter or heat press.
      6. Patrons can reserve two hours of machine time. However, as the schedule allows, time may be extended based on the availability of equipment and Lab staff.
   4. CNC Mill/Router
      1. Patrons, ages 14-17, must be accompanied by a badged parent or guardian to use the CNC mill.
      2. Patrons must remain with the CNC mill while it is in operation. The CNC mill must not be left unattended while it is in use.
      3. Patron are required to provide their own materials.
      4. CNC mills require careful review of materials to ensure safe operation. All materials used in the CNC mill must be approved by Lab Staff. Upon inspection, use of material may be denied at staff discretion.
      5. Materials costs are not reimbursed. The Library is not responsible for failed jobs or materials damaged by the CNC mill.
      6. The library will provide a limited selection of basic end mills, fixturing, and other tooling for use. Patrons may bring their own specialty end mills and tooling for use in the CNC mills at the discretion of Lab Staff.
      7. Patrons can reserve two hours of machine time. However, as the schedule allows, time may be extended based on the availability of equipment and Lab Staff.
   5. Specialized Machines:  All other machines and equipment are subject to the general machine usage policy, and the use of equipment may be denied at staff discretion.
      1. Vacuum Former
         1. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a badged parent or guardian to use the vacuum former.
         2. Patrons must remain at the vacuum former while it is in operation. The vacuum former must not be left unattended while in use
         3. Patrons are required to provide their own materials.
         4. Material costs are not reimbursed. The Library is not responsible for failed jobs or materials damaged by the vacuum former.
         5. Vacuum former machines require careful review of materials to ensure safe operation. All materials used in the vacuum former must be approved by Lab Staff. Upon inspection, use of material may be denied at staff discretion. For patron and machine safety, PVC or chloride-containing materials are specifically prohibited.
         6. Patrons can reserve one hour of machine time. However, as the schedule allows, time may be extended based on the availability of equipment and Lab staff.
      2. Soldering Iron
         1. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a badged parent or guardian to use the soldering iron.
         2. Patrons are required to wear gloves & safety goggles when using the soldering iron. Lab staff can provide protective equipment.
         3. Patrons must ask for staff assistance to set up an exhaust system or work in a well-ventilated area before operating the soldering iron.
         4. The soldering iron is not recommended for extended use.
      3. Sewing Machine & Serger
         1. Patrons are required to provide their own thread, fabric, and other materials. Needles are provided.
         2. Patrons can reserve two hours of machine time. However, as the schedule allows, time may be extended based on the availability of equipment and Lab Staff.
   6. Restrictions
      1. Lone Star College and/or Harris County Public Library’s Makerspace and/or the equipment/machines therein may be used only for lawful purposes. Users are not permitted to use the Library’s maker machines to create material that is:
         • Prohibited by local, state or federal law.
         • Unsafe, harmful, dangerous, poses an immediate threat to the well-being of others, or is otherwise inappropriate for the Library environment. (Such use may also violate the terms of use of the manufacturer.)
         • In violation of another's intellectual property rights. For example, the maker machines will not be used to reproduce material that is subject to copyright, patent or trademark protection.
      2. The Library reserves the right to refuse any project request.
      3. Supervision of the use of the maker machines by Library staff does not constitute knowledge or acknowledgment of any unapparent final use of the product, and the Library specifically disclaims any knowledge thereof.
      4. The library does not accept responsibility if a project is destroyed, does not print correctly, does not work, of if any of the patron’s personal material is damaged or destroyed while using library maker machines.
      5. Users may not plug personal computer equipment such as external storage devices into the Library’s computer network or maker machines without approval from staff at the time of machine use.
      6. Abuse of machines and/or scheduled lab time may result in the loss of use privileges.
5. PROHIBITED USAGE AND/OR ACTIVITIES
   1. The solicitation or sales of products or services, charging admission or registration fees, and/or soliciting donations other than in conjunction with a program or event sponsored or hosted by the LSC-CyFair Library Friends 501(3)(c) organization are prohibited.
   2. The creation and/or generation of any physical and/or digital, visual and/or sound, materials (in any way, shape, or form) that violate LSC and/or HCPL acceptable use guidelines, technology guidelines, and/or security guidelines is strictly prohibited.