home > services > printing
Printing from Library Computers
- How much does printing cost?
One-sided, black and white printing on 8.5" x 11" paper is $.10/sheet. We are trying to keep the cost we extend to the UMass
community at an absolute minimum. The $.10 per sheet just covers the cost of equipment, maintenance, supplies and support.
- Why charge for printing?
As more classroom materials have been placed online, printing costs have skyrocketed. For example, printing for one course with 100
students and 650 pages on readings online would use 65,000 pieces of paper. With most classes posting course content online, the numbers
quickly became untenable.
The library implemented this service after extensive research on viable printing options. Many other colleges and institutions in our
area use pay-for-print in their classrooms and libraries.
- How do I pay for my printing?
You must purchase a Copico card from the dispenser located on the first floor of the library.
- How do I purchase new Copico cards?
- In Library Purchase - 1st Floor Dispenser: A $1 bill is required to purchase a card with $.60 value (the card itself costs
$.40).
- Additional value can be added to cards using $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills, or major credit cards.
- Direct or Bulk Card Ordering: UMMS and UMMHC Departments using account numbers and patrons wanting to use Purchase Orders or
other ordering methods must order cards directly from the Card Services division of MacGray/Copico, the library's service provider.
- Specific ordering information is available here.
- Once I have a card from the dispenser, or one ordered directly from MacGray/Copico, may I add value to it?
- Yes, value can be added at the dispensers in the library using cash, but no receipt will be given.
- Patrons and UMMS departments can add value to cards using their credit cards at the card dispenser on the 1st floor of the
library. A receipt will be issued at the dispenser.
- Can I use the same copy card that I use for photocopies?
Yes, the red Mac-Gray/Copico card can be used for both photocopying and printing.
- How do I print?
- In your document, go to File > Print Preview to see what your document will look like and how many pages it will use
before you send it to the Print Release Station.
- Close the Print Preview window, and go to File > Print...
- Once you have chosen the relevant fields for page range and number of copies, click OK to release the document to the Print
Release Station.
- At the Print Release Station, insert your Copico Card. When prompted, enter User ID (the name you used
to log onto the computer) and click OK.
- Your print job should appear on the screen, along with the cost of the print job and your available balance. Highlight the job
and click Print Selected Jobs. (If you no longer want to print, do not highlight the item and it will
eventually disappear from the print queue and you will not be charged).
Note: If you attempt to print with insufficient funds to cover the cost of your document an "Insufficient Card Balance" message
will appear. It is still possible to add value to your card at the machine located next to the printing area and return to
print your document from the queue.
If you encounter problems, visit the Circulation Desk.
- Where are the printers?
Two printers are located on the 1st floor of the library.
- What happens if the printer malfunctions while I'm using it?
Inform library staff at the Circulation desk, who will immediately contact a MacGray/Copico technician. The printer will be repaired as
soon as possible.
- What if a machine causes me to lose cash or value on my copy card, or my card ceases to function while I am printing?
- Report the loss to library Circulation staff.
- Losses less than $5.00 can be corrected immediately.
- Losses greater than $5.00 must be submitted to MacGray/Copico for reimbursement, but a card with $5.00 value will be issued to
you immediately. You will be required to sign for this card. Legitimate claims will result in reimbursement from MacGray/Copico in a
timely manner.
- What happens if I make a mistake?
There are several opportunities to cancel a print job during the printing process:
- If, after you've sent a job to the Print Release Station you decide you don't want it, you don't have to do anything. Print
jobs left unclaimed in the Print Release Station's print queue get deleted after 2 hours.
- If, once you're logged in at the Print Release Station you decide that you don't want a print job, you can click Logout to
return to the Login screen and cancel your session.
- MacGray/Copico does not offer refunds on print jobs mistakenly sent to a printer from the Print Release Station. To ensure that you
get what you expect when printing, please use the Print Preview function available on most browsers and desktop software.
