As the last of the University Libraries to take cash for computer printing, the Trecker Library has been running on a wing and a prayer with a very elderly printer. Our hope was to phase out cash printing over the summer to allow plenty of notification but, probably due to a record setting busy fall semester, the cash printer gave up the ghost about a week before the start of the spring 2011 semester.
We considered a number of alternatives including trying to get a used machine, buying a new one and repairing the current printer. We decided that a repair was probably not worthwhile given that the unit we have been using is well beyond its service life and not likely to go much further before the another part breaks, that putting another used machine in place might lead to the service stopping sometime during the semester without warning, and that a new machine is not economically feasible given our original plan to phase out the service in a few months.
Why, you might ask, are we phasing out the service? The increase in business at the library has led to a number of discussions about ways to maximize our staff resources. While a valuable service to some, cash printing requires a lot of staff time to collect, count and deposit cash according to the University’s rigorous bookkeeping standards. Additionally, our cash register, which is almost ten years old, has been showing stress and the cost of replacing it is prohibitive. Finally, we clearly have been increasingly out of step with the rest of the University which has been encouraging use of the Husky One Card to provide users with more convenience (it can be used at the Co-op and elsewhere as well as at the library) and to reduce the amount of cash handling done by University employees, including student assistants.
The Husky One Card has been in increasing use at the Trecker Library and a new, state-of-the-art, One Card printer was put in place just a few months ago. With the cessation of cash printing, that service will obviously be increasing. To help the transition for users who have yet to use their One Cards for printing, and for those who are not able to receive One Cards including public users, we have developed the following information:
“PRINTING WITHOUT CASH”
ALTERNATIVES
For Members of the University Community With UConn I.D. Cards:
If you have a Husky One Card (your official UConn i.d. card) you can load funds (called “Huskybucks”) on it and use it for printing in the library. Funds can be added via the internet if you have Visa or Mastercard cards. You can also add funds to it at the Co-op (in the Undergrad Building).
For general information: http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/
For information about adding funds to your One Card: http://www.onecard.uconn.edu/where_deposits.html
For Anyone Without a UConn I.D. Card:
The UConn Co-op sells cards which can be used for printing.
Please Be Aware that the UConn Co-op on our campus has these published hours: Monday – Thursday 8:30 am-6:30 pm & Friday 8:30 am-3 pm which are not the same as the library’s regular hours: Monday to Thursday 9 am – 9 pm & Friday and Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
For All Users: Some, but not all, library databases and electronic journals allow files to be saved on user supplied flash drives or e-mailed for later printing. Also, word processing files can be saved on user supplied flash drives for printing elsewhere.
We hope this transition is smooth for most of our users and we apologize in advance for any inconvenience it causes. As a public service operation we strive to be sensitive to our users needs. Please feel free to ask our staff for assistance at any time.
Bill Uricchio — Library Director