Printing in the Library

Public printing in the library has become a big headache for everyone. A decade or so ago, when we first began to have a significant amount of material available electronically, we very intentionally elected to not charge students for printing. Previously, we made these kinds of resources available in paper and students could easily read them. If they chose to pay to make photocopies of material for their convenience, they could -- it was up to them. For many people, including me, reading intellectually challenging material on a computer screen is an obstacle to understanding. Many of us need to see the material in print, on paper. This perspective was the basis for our decision to not pass on the cost of printing to UM-D students. Little did we know!!!

Over time, the depth and breadth of materials that are available electronically have grown tremendously. At the same time, word seems to have spread around the region that ANYONE can come to the Mardigian Library and print whatever they want for free. I have heard many horror stories about students who attend other universities and colleges in the area coming here to take advantage of our free printing. Sadly, it is also true that some UM-D students abuse the free printing privilege. Of course, printing is not free--it costs the library a considerable amount of money to offer this service, which is intended to benefit UM-D students in completing course work and conducting research. Things have clearly gotten out of hand. We are in the process of doing something about it.

Specifically, by January 1, 2008 the library will have a means of distinguishing between UM-Dearborn users and "guests." We will continue to allow UM-Dearborn students, faculty members and staff members to print at no cost, while requiring that guests pay a fee for printing. We are not yet certain of the mechanics, but tentatively, our plan is that, temporarily, beginning in January 2008 EVERYONE will pick up printing jobs at the Circulation desk. Students will not be charged for printing; guests will be charged for printing.

As soon as we are able to put the technology in place, those who authenticate as UM-Dearborn students/faculty/staff will be able to print as they do currently while those who sign in as "guests" will go to a service station where their print jobs will be released by a library staff member in exchange for payment. We are trying very hard to put the system in place to allow authenticated UM-D users to continue printing as they always have (and only route guests to the Circulation desk) by January but we need the temporary plan in case we are unable to get everything in place by January. We will try to do that.

It is our expectation that a further step in the process to get a handle on printing will be to institute a printing quota for UM-Dearborn users. If users choose to print beyond their allowed quota, they will need to pay, either on a per-job basis or by adding money to an "account." We do not yet know what that mechanism will be or what the print quota will be. Stay tuned.