Print Release FAQ

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What is a print release station?

A print release station is a computer and printer with software that will allow customers to access, print, and pay for their print jobs in a self-service environment.

How do I print using print release?

Use your library card or computer user card number to start a public computer session and send print jobs to the print release station. Your print jobs will be stored in a print queue until you are ready to "release" and print them. When your are done with your computer session, just visit a print release station and use your card number to access a list of your print jobs and select those you want to print. Use the "Print" button on the print release station to release your print job(s). You will be prompted to put payment in the printer’s coin box and your job(s) will be printed. That's all — no waiting for staff to assist you!

Tip:

For best results, please use "File" and "Print Preview" before you send your print job to ensure that your print job will be properly formatted and that you know how many pages it will be. You can then use "File" and "Print" to select the number of pages and copies you want to send to the print release station.

What if I want to pay for print jobs using a credit card or personal check?

The public print release station coin boxes can accept cash payment only. For payment with Visa, MasterCard or personal check, please ask staff for assistance. Staff will be able to access your print jobs on a staff computer, print them and collect payment by your preferred method. At the Central Library, please visit the Level Three Reference desk or the Community Technology Center on Level Four to pay with a credit card.

What if I access my print job on the print release station and the cost is greater than I expected?

If the cost of the job is higher than you were expecting, your print job may include pages that you did not intend to print. If you go ahead and release the job you may end up paying for pages you don’t want. Instead, please use the "Done" button on the public print release station and visit the nearest reference desk for assistance from staff. You will need to provide staff with information about the website or documents you wanted to print so staff can access them and help you decide how to format and print your print jobs. Staff will be happy to provide you with some helpful tips that you can use to get the best results each time you send a print job from a public computer.

Where can I pick up my print jobs?

The Ross-University Hills and Schlessman Family Branch each have a single print release station located near the reference desk. At the Central Library, print release stations are located on Level One in the Burnham Hoyt Room, on Level Three in Reference Services, on Level Four in the Community Technology Center and on Level Five in the Western History and Genealogy Department. At the Central Library, if you need to pick up a black & white print job on 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 paper, you can visit any Central Library print release station - whichever is most convenient for you. If you need to pick up a black & white print job on 11 x 14 paper, please visit the Level Three Reference Services desk for staff assistance. Central Library customers will also have the option to print in color on 8.5 x 11 paper. Color print jobs must be picked up from the Level Three Reference Services print release station where the color printer is located.

When can I pick up my print jobs?

After you have sent your print job(s) to the print release station, you can visit a print release station to release and print your print job(s) at any time the same day up until the Library closes. If you forget your wallet you can even leave and return the same day with payment and your print jobs will still be waiting in your print queue. You can use your library card or computer user card number to access your print jobs when it’s most convenient for you.

Can I print from 15-minute Express PCs at Central?

Yes, the three 15-minute Express PCs on Level 1 near the Info Desk will send print jobs to the print release queue. For these PCs only, you will not need to enter a library or computer user card number to log on. If you decide to print, the print job will be sent to the print queue under the name of the particular Express PC you are using (EXPRESS 1, EXPRESS 2, EXPRESS 3). You should visit a print release station immediately after your Express PC session so that someone else using the same PC does not accidentally print your print job. At the print release station you will need to enter the name of the PC to release your print job. The nearest print release station is across the hall in the Burnham Hoyt Room. Staff at the Burnham Hoyt desk will be happy to assist you if you have questions about your print job. If you need to print in color you will need to visit the Level 3 Reference Room print release station to pick up your print job.

What if I decide I don’t want to print some of the print jobs I sent?

At the print release station you can select unwanted print jobs and use the "Delete" button to delete them. If you forget to delete your unwanted print jobs they will be automatically deleted overnight.

What are the charges for computer print jobs?

Print jobs from public computers are 10 cents per page for black & white on three paper sizes (8.5 x 11, 8.5 x 14 or 11 x 14) and 50 cents per page for color on 8.5 x 11 paper.

What if I need help with the print release station?

Staff will be happy to assist you with your print jobs at the print release station or at the reference desk. Staff can provide you with a demo of the print release station and provide helpful tips for getting the best results with your print jobs. Please have your library card or computer user card handy when you visit the nearest desk.

What about customer privacy?

Print release stations provide privacy protection by ensuring that you are the only one to see your print jobs. You will use your library card or computer user card number to access and print your jobs. When you’re done at the print release station, just use the "Done" button to close your printing session and pick up your print jobs. It’s that simple!

Why don’t we have a print release station at my branch? Will we get one later?

Currently, we can budget for print release at the Central Library, the Schlessman Family Branch Library and the Ross-University Hills Branch Library. We hope to expand this service to other branches in the future. If you have comments about print release, please let staff know.

Why is adopting print release a good idea?

Print release stations enable customers to see the cost of print jobs in advance so that they can more effectively choose the format and number of pages to print. Customers will be able to print only the pages they want and the need for cover sheets is eliminated, resulting in more efficient use of paper and toner resources. Print release is a greener method of managing print jobs, will save Library resources and enable the Library to keep the price of printing down for our customers. Print release stations also allow customers the convenient options of self-service printing or friendly assistance from staff with print jobs. At the Central Library, print release stations increase convenience by allowing customers to pick up their black & white print jobs at the most convenient print release station, regardless of the location in the building of the public computer they were using.