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CU Library Digital Media Lab: Policies and Procedures

Equipment Checkout
Patrons must present a valid Cameron ID to check out equipment and equipment must be returned within 72 hours. Some guidelines:

  • Equipment is checked-out on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • The equipment loan period is 72 hours.
  • Items must be brought to the Digital Media Lab for renewals.
  • All equipment and its components must be present at return.
  • Students, faculty, and staff are responsible for the equipment they check out. All equipment is inspected by library staff prior to check-out to ensure that it is in good operational condition.
  • The library will determine the replacement, repair, and processing charges should the equipment be lost, stolen, or damaged, to be applied to the student’s account.
  • Overdue items will be considered lost; replacement and processing charges may be applied to the student’s account. This may result in denial of library borrowing privileges, including future checkouts of DML equipment.

Storage and Saving Work

  • Work-in-progress files may be stored on the workstation’s internal hard drive for the duration of the session, but users are encouraged to save their work to a removable media at the end of the session and remove all files from the internal drive. All files/work left on workstations are public, therefore their integrity and existence is not guaranteed.
  • The internal drives are regularly erased.
  • Users should bring USB flash drives, portable hard drives, DVDs, or be prepared to send files over the network for storage. Files may be deleted from the workstation’s hard drive at any time after the completion of The Digital Media Lab and its staff are not liable for any loss, damage or expense sustained by any user due to the use of the library services, equipment, software, advice or information.

Handle With Care

Digital Media Lab equipment is CU property. Users of equipment will be held responsible to pay for the repair or replacement costs of any borrowed equipment, which is lost, stolen, or damaged. These costs will be applied against the user’s CU account.

  • Users may not check out equipment if their Library account is blocked due to fines or overdue items.
  • Users are responsible for returning all equipment in the same condition as it was when checked out. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure that the equipment is in proper working order when checking it out. Should the user discover equipment is faulty for any reason, it must be reported immediately.
  • Returned equipment must be handed directly to a student employee or staff member at the Digital Media Lab or the Circulation Desk.
  • Equipment usage privileges may be revoked at any time without warning due to careless handling of equipment, repeated lateness, or repetitive damage. Please note that unattended equipment is considered careless handling.
  • Please do not leave personal items or other Library materials unattended. Please do not leave workstations unattended while using computers and equipment.

Food and Drink

  • Drinks and food are permitted. Please do not leave trash behind.

Collaborative Work
Be Courteous to Others

  • ​Users may work on stations in small groups. Those working in groups should be advised to keep their volume low out of respect for others. Those failing to do will be asked to leave.
  • The computer stations in the Digital Media Lab are designed for collaboration. Extra chairs are available, however, due to space restrictions there can only be a maximum of three people at any computer station.
  • Please keep headphone volume as low as possible. We have a limited number of headphones for use. When finished using headphones please return them to the Circulation Desk.

3D Printing

  • All CU students and employees are invited to use our service.
  • Send your 3D print request to 3dprinting@cameron.edu. When your print finishes you will receive an email from our staff. You are welcome to pick up your print during normal DML hours.
  • In order to print something, you will need a ".stl" file. This is a form of 3D model that is specially used in 3D printing.
  • Cost is: free!
  • Don't have a file of your own? Feel free to look online. Many resources are available that provide access to free file sharing of 3D models or 3D file checking. Such websites include:
    • Thingiverse
      • MakerBot's official creative website for 3D printed objects. Save or download preexisting plans for many 3D objects 
  • The library's 3D printers and scanners may only be used for lawful purposes. No one is permitted 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.
    • Obscene or otherwise inappropriate for the library environment.
    • In violation of another's intellectual property rights. For example, you cannot reproduce material subject to copyright, patent, or trademark protection.
  • Depending on the size and complexity of your print, it may take several hours for your print to complete. Most print jobs wait one day or so before being started as there is usually a queue waiting to be printed. 
  • Often prints fail. If this happens, adjustments will be made and your print will be restarted by our staff. If your print fails repeatedly you will be notified and receive recommendations that will hopefully make your file better suited to be 3D printed.
  • Due to the nature of 3D printing, DML staff will not guarantee a time when a print will be completed. Please submit print jobs well in advance of needing them completed.