(6 January 2015, Washington, D.C.) Public policy issues surrounding 3D printers are now coming to the fore as the technology becomes more widely available in America’s libraries and homes. To ensure people are able to use 3D printers responsibly and effectively, librarians must now work towards developing policies in copyright, trademark, privacy, product liability and more. Established, reasonable practices for 3D printing will enable this technology to best serve our communities and inform the laws, regulations and judicial decisions to come.
In a new report from the American Library Association (ALA), author Charlie Wapner encourages libraries, as leaders of the digital learning and 3D printing movement, to take a proactive role in developing institutional policies that address the social, technological and political complexities that result from the rise of 3D printing. Progress in the Making: 3D Printing Policy Considerations through the Library Lens is freely available online here (pdf).
The detailed press release is here.
