Fellow Librarians-

To summarize my question last week about charging for printouts...

Many of you had suggestions for systems to do this including copy cards and
a special computer performing as a print release station where students
would get a second chance to decide if they want the pages they sent and how
much it will cost them.  They can then choose to alter the printout and
swipe a copy card to pay for the charges. This seems like a great idea which
I intend to file for future use.

The Dean and what we are already charging for photocopies have set my price
at .10 per page.  This seemed to be what the majority of respondents are
charging.  The range was from .5-.15 per page.

The last question I sent discussed whether to charge for mistakes.  The
majority of respondents said "Yes" emphatically.  Some of you felt that I
should be lenient with first time offenders, but crack down on serial
printers who don't like to pay.  If I appear to be on their side, then the
charge will not seem so harsh.  This is a consideration for us in the
beginning weeks of the new charges.  Students here are not shrinking violets
and they make their displeasure unknown loud and clear.  I will have to see
how the students feel about the new system.

I also intend to widely distribute options and methods for reducing their
costs.  One response detailed the use of a duplexer for my printer that
would permit 2-sided printing.  My IS dept. is looking into it now.
However, many of you feel I should charge .20 for a 2-sided copy since they
are still using toner even if they are using less paper.  An interesting
viewpoint I had not considered.

Thanks so much for your responses and support.  Its nice to know that others
are faced with this issue and that I have you all to turn to for assistance.


Wendy J. Wax, MLS
Librarian
Helene Fuld School of Nursing
PO Box 1669 College Drive
Blackwood, NJ 08012
(v) 856.374.0100 x105
(f) 856.374.0712
[log in to unmask]
http://www.virtua.org/helenefuld.cfm
 <<...OLE_Obj...>>