Slaying a paper tiger

The wait is finally over. This fall, students will no longer wait hours for their printouts at library printers monopolized by one person printing every page of a management textbook.

UB's new iprint@ub program will make sure that if a student wants to print that textbook, it might be the only printing they will do on a UB printer that semester. The new plan limiting the number of pages each student can print on UB printers should cut costs, reduce print turnaround times, and benefit the environment.

At peak print times during the semester, the wait to print a short document in the Capen Cybrary can be as long as 8 hours. At the beginning of the semester, when many students are printing notes and assignments, the wait can stretch to two days. Limiting the number of pages individual students can print may have a dramatic effect on wait times - students will be more reluctant to print up an entire 25-page journal article for the two paragraphs they actually need.

The limits won't solve the entire problem, however, as UB gives each student a generous 650 pages per semester, much more than most students use. The limits, in reality, won't affect the average student. Where the limits will succeed is corralling serial printers, those who print every PowerPoint slide of every lecture whether or not they plan to use them.

The printing limits may also rein in the technology fee, which has increased astronomically since on-campus printing became widespread 19 years ago. Right now, UB spends almost three-quarters of a million dollars on paper and toner alone. The reduced wear and tear on the printers will lead to fewer breakdowns, less toner usage, and less paper usage. The technology fee buys each student about a ream of paper at $25, a fee that covers the cost of toner as well. In the current system, when a student uses materials beyond that $25, they are taking advantage of other students.

While the decision to limit printing is being made, UB is taking a significant step in reducing paper waste on campus. According to Information Technology officials, approximately 52 million pages were printed on library computers last year. With printing limits in place, UB students will be able to print a maximum of about 40 million pages before they have to begin paying per page. That translates to nearly 12 million pages that could be saved under the new plan, with students becoming more judicious with their printer usage. This is a more effective step to a "greener" campus than the overflowing recycle bins labeled "UB Green" are, and is a more complete vision of reduced waste that UB Green hopes to realize.

There just aren't many drawbacks to the new limited print system. The program allots a reasonable number of printed pages for each student while reigning in excessive printing, costs and wait times.