Library Innovation Lab

About the Library Innovation Lab: Purpose

The Library Innovation Lab supports the Texas A&M University's strategic goals by offering activities, equipment, and an environment that fosters creativity, design thinking and visual communication. It provides students, faculty, and staff with opportunities for collaboration and experiential learning. The lab also directly supports the university's mission of providing accessible and inclusive educational experiences and aligns with our vision of serving as a catalyst for cultural and economic impact. 
 

Note: Library Innovation Lab staff will produce submitted projects. Due to our small staff and limited equipment, only staff members will be operating the lab's machinery for the foreseeable future.

Email the Innovation Lab Staff 

Requirements for Services

• Production services are available for university students, faculty, and staff.
• Production services will be provided for items related to academics, course requirements, and other university business.
• Services will be provided for those who submit a signed Library Innovation Lab Patron Agreement Form. Upload a completed form along with your project file(s) using the Library Innovation Lab Production Request Form.

Charges for Services 

• Services will require payment so that the Library Innovation Lab can operate sustainably beyond the current academic year. 
• Charges for projects are based on the supplies used and machine run time.
• Charges for Library Innovation Lab services are aligned with those of other maker spaces and production labs in the Texas A&M University System and San Antonio area. Innovation Lab staff worked hard to keep fees below what most commercial providers charge. 
• The Library Innovation Lab Pricing document details costs for different services. All prices are pre-tax amounts.
• The Library Innovation Lab is required to charge sales tax unless the project submission includes a correctly completed and signed 01-339 tax exempt form. Download the form using the link in the previous sentence of from the Policies and Forms section of this webpage.
• Departments that wish to pay for employee or student projects may arrange for a charge back to their department funds.
• Individual purchasers must pay for their projects with a credit card using the university's Library Innovation Lab Transact eMarket store. 
• After you submit a project request, please wait to be contacted by a Library Innovation Lab staff member who will confirm project details with you and provide an invoice with the charge to be paid.
• Innovation Lab staff will begin project production once the Transact system sends the notification that the project charge has been paid.

Library Innovation Lab Visitors (a.k.a. Patrons) are expected to...

• Keep all food and uncovered beverages away from equipment.
• Respect other users of the Innovation Lab.
• Follow the instructions of Innovation Lab staff members and adhere to posted signs. 
• Respond to emergency situations and other requests as instructed by Library staff.
• Do not touch, uncover, turn on, move, or attempt to repair any equipment or machinery.
• Wear safety glasses when using or observing equipment at close range.
• Refrain from using lab equipment or supplies in ways that could harm others. 
• Understand that Innovation Lab staff reserve the right to ask patrons to leave the space and revoke lab privileges due to behavior concerns.
• Expect to be charged fees for damaged equipment or supplies if instructions for use are not followed.
• Immediately report all problems or concerns encountered in the lab, including actual or potential accidents, injuries, and equipment malfunctions, to Innovation Lab or other Library staff.
• Work on projects at a comfortable pace to avoid compromising safety and damaging equipment.
• Clean up your workspace and be prepared to leave the lab at closing time. Library staff are not responsible for picking up after you.
• Agree that the Library is not responsible for any manufacturing defects in the quality of workmanship or materials inherent in the tools or equipment or for patron mistakes.
• Acknowledge that projects submitted to the Innovation Lab staff for production will generally require 3 business days to complete.
• Check with Library staff about storing any projects in the lab and acknowledge that Library staff are not responsible for monitoring unattended projects.
• Pick up any projects within 7 business days of completion notification; After the 7-day period, all items become the property of the Library for reuse or disposal. 
• Adhere to the Library Code of Conduct and the Texas A&M University-San Antonio Student Handbook.