In August 2012, the Scarborough Library increased the price of printing with black ink to 15 cents per page (previously 10 cents), a 50 percent increase. The price of color copies did not increase.
Karen Bergeron, a senior, frequently used the library last year to print during the first semester, but after she noticed the price increase, she began using the education lab in Knutti.
“I was mostly using the library to print off lesson plans, but in Knutti I could do it for free, so that is why I started going there,” Bergeron said.
Alethea Snurr, a senior, used the Scarborough Library last year for her printing. When asked if the price increase made a difference Snurr said, “It definitely makes a difference, especially being an English major. Last year I spent around $50 in copies.” Snurr also added that she recently invested in a printer to avoid the cost of printing at the library.
Although some students may disagree, the Scarborough Library has seen an increase of copying and printing since they raised the price. The library does allow students the option of scanning documents at no cost at all; stop by the service desk for assistance. Also, students can read many electronic articles online.
Our library has many fees of its own, including paying for all of the online databases and journals students can access for free. Shepherd University does not have a library fee like many other schools.
Ann Watson, the Dean of Libraries at Shepherd University said this when asked why prices increased:
“The library was seeing the cost of toner, which is very expensive, increase. The cost of paper continues to increase as well. In order to meet the demand of providing more toner to support the copier and printers, the library had to increase the cost per black and white copying and printing.”
Even though the library did raise the price on printing, they also have many other free resources for students.