Extended: Stauffer Printers set for Double-Sided Printing
Posted: September 9th, 2009At the request of a number of sustainability groups at Queen’s, Stauffer Library has launched a pilot project to assess the impact of changing the settings on library printers to double-sided printing. Print jobs sent to any Stauffer Library printer station will now print double-sided by default.
Please note that page counts from some software programs (e.g., Internet Explorer) are sometimes inaccurate, occasionally resulting in a 10-cent overcharge on some print jobs. We regret that the Library is unable to provide printing refunds.
If you require single-sided printouts and/or wish to avoid any overcharge, you must change the printer settings manually:
- Select Preferences or Properties from the program’s print job screen;
- Click the Finishing tab;
- Un-check the box to Print on Both Sides.
The pilot period has been extended through the end of the Fall term. In the meantime, we continue to welcome feedback from Library users. Please use the comment section here to share your opinion.
RSS
September 10th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Wait, what?
So this pilot means your paper costs are (roughly) halved.
At, say, $0.01 per sheet in paper costs, shouldn’t copying now cost less (in the range of $0.09 per page), rather than the same — or, as it appears here, in some cases, MORE?
September 11th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Printing rates have not changed. The cost remains 10 cents/page imprint regardless of whether a user chooses to print single- or double-sided.
The trial period is intended to enable the Library to assess the full impact of this change, including staff time required for printer maintenance and support. While the change has been motivated by sustainability considerations, we do not yet know the extent to which it will actually impact paper use as many users have indicated that they already switch to double-sided printing. These impacts will be assessed at Thanksgiving and any resulting changes will be announced soon thereafter.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your question.
September 11th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Double-sided printing is not only an environmentally friendly way of saving paper, but it is also a way for students to save money. (its going to be, what, 10c per page no matter if its got one side or two sides of printing, so why not print double-sided?) You will also have fewer notes/documents to carry, making it easier for your shoulder, etc.
Queen’s just needs to get its printing cost policy problems straightened out, because the idea behind the default double-sided change is Great. It’s good for students, Queen’s, and the environment.
I would like to see this change made across all campus computers and printers, as well as with photocopiers. Photocopying books always copies out single sided now and its a tremendous waste of paper.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I applaud Stauffer Library talking on taking this bold initiative. By making the default option double sided, one guides those who are impartial to making the more environmentally friendly decision. Fortunately, for those adamant on one sided printing, the option remains open albeit effort is required to make this change.
This is an excellent initiative to make double-sided printing the new standard.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
This is a fantastic idea. Thank you for making Queen’s more sustainable!
September 12th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I think it’s great that we will be printing double-sided. Thanks for taking the initiative.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:27 am
This is great news!
Default double-sided printing will encourage users to conserve paper while esentially saving students money – $0.10 per page, printed on both sides, instead of $0.20 for two pages, printed on one side only.
I’m really excited about this initiative, and I really hope that everything goes well!
-Claire Nelischer
Sustainability Coordinator
Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University
September 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to provide feedback on this initiative. We continue to welcome and encourage library users to submit their comments and suggestions.
Printing and photocopying services across campus are presently managed by individual units. We can only address questions and comments relating to Library services. To be absolutely clear on pricing for printing in the Library, we reiterate that prices have not changed in several years. The cost remains set at $.10/page ($.20/sheet double-sided).
It is not possible to change the default duplexing settings on photocopiers in Stauffer at this time due to equipment limitations. This option will be examined when the photocopiers are due for replacement, but in the interim it is up to environmentally conscious users to change the settings manually if they wish.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Would it be possible to lower the price of double-sided printing to about 15 cents per double-sided page, just to provide more of an incentive to print double-sided?
The pricing this way would be more fair – you will still be charging for the toner. Plus, I’m sure a lot more students would support this initiative if that were the case.
Yan Yu
Sustainability Coordinator
Main Campus Residents’ Council
September 17th, 2009 at 11:26 am
What a welcome change! In the past I’ve been reluctant to print double-sided because it cost the same as printing two pages but did not give me a blank side to use as scrap paper. This move will save both paper and printing costs. Thanks for making Queen’s more sustainable.
September 20th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I’d recently applauded the Library for their sustainability efforts and I still support double-sided printing as a default printing option. However, I realised that a double-sided page is still $.20. While ink is the most expensive part of printing, should the price not decrease a little to reflect the paper saved?
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
This sounds great. Saving paper is always a good idea
October 5th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
This looks fantastic. I hope this initiative is extended!
October 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I think that this trial is an incredible initiative. It really shows that the library staff are environmentally conscious, socially responsible, and flexibible to positive change. The trial DEFINITELY needs to be extended after Thanksgiving.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
This is a great way to save on paper. I personally always print double sided and fit 6 lecture slides on a page. Having Stauffer Library make its printers print by default double sided has been one of the best positive movements towards a greener environment. I hope that this continues and becomes permanent in Stauffer and the rest of the libraries in Queen’s University.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:15 am
I think this is a great idea that will greatly benefit students and the environment. I sincerely hope it becomes more than a pilot project.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
FINALLY! I spent years at Queen’s, from 1999 through 2005, lecturing everybody in sight about how wasteful the copiers were. I even tried to indoctrinate my students when I was a TA by either printing double-sided or using scrap paper. Thank you, whoever is responsible for this. Now if you can get someone to turn off the lights in the new “Green” Student Center, you’ll be getting somewhere!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
This is a step in the right direction. A lot people want to save the environment but lack the technology savviness. Your problem solves this problem for them. Applause.