How can I avoid or reduce printing charges?

Most library resources can be accessed remotely from computers in offices, dorm rooms, and private residences. There is no cost to access the resources, just a charge for printing on the library's public printers. You can print the information yourself on your personal printer at no cost. If you use one of the Campus Computing Sites to print, you will be charged the same amount per page that you will in the library.

Alternatives to printing

• When using a computer within the library, you can often email the search results to yourself. In addition, those who use UM authentication can save documents to their IFS (Institutional File System) space. You may also save to your own external USB device. You can then access the file in electronic format and read it from your computer or print it off on your personal printer later.
• The library keeps supplies of scrap paper and pencils for patrons who need to quickly write down a call number or citation. If a supply is not available near the workstation that you are using, please ask at any service desk.

Check before printing

• Check the number of pages in your print job prior to printing by using the Print Preview function from the file menu of the browser. If you are printing a PDF document, this information is displayed at the bottom left side of the screen.
• Do you really need the whole document? Print only the pages needed by setting the page range prior to printing.
• Often blank pages will be included at the end of printouts from websites and the library's networked electronic resources. Using print preview and printing only the page range necessary can eliminate the additional pages.

Solving printing problems

• All of our public workstations offer at least two different web browsers. If there are problems printing from the web, try the alternate browser.
• It is sometimes difficult to print Microsoft PowerPoint, Word or Excel documents from library workstations as we do not have the full versions of Microsoft Office applications on many of our public computers. Although you may be able to view these files, they may not print as expected. Try Campus Computing Sites as an alternative.
• Use the Adobe Reader print button rather that the web browser's file menu to print electronic journal PDF documents.

Duplexing

The Library is currently in the process of implementing a system to allow users to print double-sided on Library printers.