What is It?

The Espresso Book Machine (EBM) is an integrated, automated book-making machine that prints, binds, and trims—on demand—high quality paperback books with 4-color covers. The EBM can print, bind, and trim a 300 page book from a digital file in about 7 minutes.

Why Do We Have One?

The University of Michigan Library believes that high-quality, cost-effective print is an important part of the digital future. The EBM helps make it possible to connect our users with the information they need, when they need it, and in the form they desire. Some of the time, an electronic book—that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and quickly searched—is exactly what is needed. At other times, the ideal form of the book is a bound copy that helps with sustained reading, that serves as a physical reminder of a reading experience, or that can easily be passed from one person to another.

What Can We Do With It?

Services we provide include:

• affordable reprints of out-of-copyright books from the Library’s collection or other repositories such as the Internet Archive
• small print runs of class output in book form, such as anthologies of creative writing
• printed copies of proceedings of University conferences and events
• self-publishing projects

Desktop Support Services (DSS) supports all Library staff computers, associated hardware, and network services. We provide loaner equipment, software purchasing and licensing, hardware purchasing, application development and support, consultation services, and Library technology training. We also offer consultation services for current applications and future needs for Library staff.

Library Staff, please visit our staff page.

The University Library supports curriculum needs with its course reserves service, which offers faculty the opportunity to make books, coursepacks, CDs, and other physical items available to students. These items are available to students at the libraries for short periods of time to maximize access to high use and high demand materials.