What amazes me from reading various Teacher Librarian messageboards and from what I've seen at some schools is how some prefer that it would be preferable for students to see the library staff in their staffroom and do their printing there, whether or not they are charged for it.
My first concern is students being present in a staff area. Staff require their own workspaces to undertake their work, even library staff. It can be intrusive if a group of students are in there. If seeing a student, I aim to consult them on the floor of the library, where I can also supervise students. If the matter is more private, then I would only see one student at a time. Boundaries need to be maintained.
Some students just rush and sit at staff computers and desks and this then becomes a discipline matter as some think that they have entitlement to the facilities reserved for staff. I would remove a student from the library in that instance.
My second concern is that library resources or personal items can go missing. Someone might be there on the premise of "printing" but might want to help themselves to something that is not theirs
My biggest concern though is on productivity and provision of library services. If I am sitting at a desk printing work, then a student who needs to locate a book or seek assistance with an assignment, would have to wait. Also I would be unable to supervise students. If there was self-service printing, I can still assist with printing, but that would be on the main floor of the library and still can maintain an active presence. If in classtime, I would then have to stop doing whatever task needs to be done.
I am an advocate for schools using self-service printing for the following:
- Allows library staff to be more productive in their work - We can attend to more complex matters or provide direct assistance in providing library resources.
- Keeps students out of staff areas.
- Independent learning habits - Students assume responsibility for their learning especially in the process of publishing their information and adhering to deadlines.
- Printing is a quicker process - A photocopier can process jobs with ease e.g. jobs are in a queue. Students just need to login to a computer available
- Less wastage of paper and resources.
- Additional services e.g. scanning
While there is a financial cost in acquiring the photocopier and upkeep, it can pay for itself through charges for printing and photocopying. Through systems such as Papercut, printing can be monitored and linked to student accounts.Students can purchase credit for use and can be topped up. Yes there is some administration involved in collecting funds, recording it on the system and paying fees for the software but the benefits outweigh it.
