[12528] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Printer dilemma (Was No PACS-L Mail)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Wed Oct 28 20:02:47 1998
Date: Wed, 28 Oct 1998 14:26:04 -0500
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
2 Messages; 140 Lines
*-----
From: "Calvin J. Frye" <FryeCJ@wra.net>
Subject: Re: No PACS-L Mail
Stacy Pober, from the Manhattan College Libraries, commented on the paucity
of traffic on PACS-L, and raised some questions besides concerning printers
in public settings. Personally, I'm not sure where else I'd raise such a
question. The trials and concerns of the public-access community aren't
well-addressed in more specific technical forums. My network-specific
questions I send elsewhere, but no individual network group has much of use
regarding blending networks of disparate computers, for example. Likewise
the printer issues, ADA issues, etc.
So, here's my two cents: We've found some of the (unsuprisingly)
more-expensive HP laserjets to be rather durable. It's well to consider that
these are all complicated devices, though. We have a maintenence contract on
our more-used LaserJets, and the cost of repairs would have exceeded the
contract cost on several of our older models by now. We don't charge by
page, since we have a captive audience. We have a copier/printer supplies
fee assessed each fall.
--Cal Frye, Western REserve Academy, Hudson, OH
*-----
From: "Dean M. Riley" <driley@hbu.edu>
Subject: Re: No PACS-L Mail <Printer Dilemma>
Stacy,
<snip>
>
>For example, we're wrestling with the mundane issue of printer use in the
public
>area
>since our addition of full-text databases. We can't afford to provide free
>printing to
>all on every computer and our printer/card reader solution has worked very
>poorly, so
>we're looking into alternatives to that. The printers we did use for free
access
>are beginning to die off all at once, and now I'm looking into what kind of
>printers
>have good longevity in public settings.
<snip>
We're dealing with a similar on-going dilemma here at our small university.
I never have understood printing technology very well so this is still
somewhat confusing to me. Anyhow, up until a year and a half ago, we had
coin boxes on our ProQuest CDROM workstations and coin-operated copiers and
microform readers. About the same time added the campus backbone and got
the Internet into the library. Obviously, printing skyrocketed. The rest of
the school wasn't facing the same issue yet because we had a new building
being built which would house computer labs. We had to do something to
control the printing costs.
Then, we got a smart-card reader system which could be used by everything
in the library. It is an interesting system but I've learned several things
so far:
1. I (as the automation person) was not involved with the RFP process.
Another librarian was in charge of it. The staff wanted a complete turnkey
solution (i.e., outsourced). The selected vendor had not yet installed a
card system anywhere. We were the first. The vendor comes and tallies their
money while any printing problems still come to me. If it should be
hardware related, then we call them. So far, I have called the software
programmer four times with software troubleshooing issues rather than the
people that installed it. To be fair, the programmer is good about
answering our questions in a timely fashion. Moral: insist on being part of
the process and get a solution that fits your expectations.
2. I installed the software onto a Windows 95 Pentium with an HP600 Deskjet
(almost everything we have right now is an HP Deskjet). When the metering
software was started, the system crashed. I spent two weeks going between
our campus IS department and calling the programmer trying to figure out
what was wrong. It turned out that the software people didn't have a
printer compatability list. When I asked for it before installation, they
said it would work with HPs. It turned out that they didn't test the HP600
printers with their software. They **did** test the HP500 Deskjet, however.
So we ended up using the HP600 with a 500 driver. Moral: don't believe
everything you're told and be prepared for Murphy's Law even after signing
any contract.
3. Patrons are still confused about how to encode a card. The prionted
instructions seem complicated and patrons have problems all the time. If
they think something is wrong and stop to read or ask help, they may return
to the dispenser to discover that they can't encode their card anymore
because time ran out. Moral: signs don't help -- people do. If you see
someone getting a card, go over and teach them how to use it. This can be
tough to manage if you have a busy reference and/or circulation desk.
4. Our new problem is that the campus is moving toward NT. Right now our
setup is two PCs sharing one printer and one card reader (the readers are
about $800, from what I'm told) while the software resides on each PC. We
also have a smart (automatic) switcher for the printer and a manual
switchbox which the patrons change to govern the card reader. We like this
stand-alone solution because the printer is right there beside the
workstation.
But the NT solution is only a networked solution via a printer server which
means patrons would have to write down file names (or something) they want
to print, click print, get up and probably wait in a line to select their
print materials, and pay for them with their card. We don't favor this
option. We are hopeful that the vendor creates a standalone solution for
the NT.
Right now, if we lost a PC, the replacement would have NT. We could connect
it to the network but not attach a printer to it. In addition, the new
building is completed and the labs are now facing the same problem we faced
a year and a half ago. The campus is now looking for a campus-wide solution
but apparently the IS folks don't like our vendor's solution. I am not sure
how they will handle two disparate printing systems on the same campus. I
am sure that the students won't like having two systems to deal with. And,
to add insult to injury, we have a contract for six years (may possibly be
re-evaluated in another one and a half, from what I understand). :( It
was modified and then approved by our VP for Financial Affairs. Moral: --
this chapter is still being written. I'm afraid of what this moral will be!!
I'm sorry for the long post but I wanted you to know that there are others
of us out here who sympathize with you!! You're not alone!!
Dean Riley
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Dean M. Riley Phone: 281-649-3000 x2304
Systems Librarian E-mail: driley@hbu.edu
Moody Library
Houston Baptist University
7502 Fondren
Houston, TX 77074-3204
"No individual has any right to come into existence and go out of it
without leaving behind distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed
through it." -- George Washington Carver
****All expressed opinions are mine and not necessarily those of Houston
Baptist University.****
