Media Lab Policies

Important Phone Numbers:

General Policies

1. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the Media Lab/MultiMedia Lab/Graphics Lab, in the studio, or near any equipment.
2. Please sign in when you come to use the lab and sign out when you are done.
3. Do not mess with other people's stuff! Don't take other people's slides out of trays; don't record on tapes that aren't yours; etc.
4. Unless you've made special arrangements, always take your supplies with you. We will not be responsible for the care or condition of materials left behind.
5. Do not use the lab telephone. It is for lab business only.
6. Do not unlock any of the doors, even if you are occupying the room to which the door opens.
7. Be considerate of others and begin finishing up/saving projects before the next person’s reservation time.
8. If you have lab related problems, first see the lab assistant and then the Media Lab Director or your instructor. If s/he isn't around, any communication faculty member who is available will try to help you resolve the problem.

 Reservation/Sign-up Policies for Facilites

Because of the large number of students using the Media Lab, there must be limits to the amount of time you can reserve. We would, however, like to maintain some flexibility.

1. It is preferable that you sign up for lab time in person. You may call the lab assistant to reserve time for you only when that is not possible.

1. you leave your name and a telephone number
2. which faciltiy or equipment you are interested in reserving
3. leave 1^st and 2^nd choice of times; please leave the start time as well as the end time of the reservation.

1. ALWAYS reserve time on the schedule in pencil. Do not neglect to sign up for lab time and expect to be accommodated immediately before your class time or project is due.
2. You may use the lab as a walk-in and work without a reservation if a station is not currently in use AND not reserved within the next 30 minutes.
3. For facilities you may reserve time in no more than 3 hour blocks. You may not reserve more than 6 hours per week. NOTE: The 6 hour per week limit is for each "lab facility." Therefore, you may reserve up to 6 hours per week in the Media Lab up to 6 hours per week in the MultiMedia Lab and up to 6 hours in the Graphics lab (per Graphics lab policy) in one week.

If no one has signed up for facilities after your reservation has ended, you may --on a walk-in basis-- schedule additional time. After 3 hours of lab time (reservation and walk-in) you can be asked to forfeit the equipment if someone else walks-in.

4. Portable equipment used outside the lab should be checked out only for as long as is absolutely necessary, but never longer than 24 hours.

If no one has signed up for the equipment within 2 hours of your return time, you may extend your reservation for up to an additional 24 hours, BUT you must speak directly with the lab assistant to confirm the availability of the equipment.

5. You may reserve time as far in advance as you would like. If the dated pages you need are not on the sign up board, please see the Media Lab Assistant.
6. When working in groups, the group is held to the same sign up limits as an individual. Each group member may not sign up as an individual to block large amounts of time for the group.
7. You may not be signed up for more than one station at the same time.