Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Thu, 20 Aug 1992 07:59:35 CDT
From:         Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Subject:      Printing Full Text from CD-ROM

4 Messages, 91 Lines
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From:     "NICHOLAS ROSSELLI (219)980-6929" <ROSSELLI@IUBACS>
Subject:  Re: printing full text from cd-rom

This is a problem we are currently wrestling with as well.  With the
addition of cd sources like Computer Select, SEC Online, and so on - it
has become a major problem at a certain level.  I don't know that I have
a problem at the 10 page level, or even the 20 page (assuming there are
no other patrons waiting to use the disk (disc? - damn!  what is the proper
spelling?).  We've always assumed (and budgeted for) paper and ribbons were
part of the associated cost.  Lately, though we've been faced with patrons
trying to print 30
+ pages - and that's getting a bit extreme.

For myself, I'm inclined to start requiring downloading for this sort of
length.  But I have only been able to come to this position because of a
number of factors that I think have to be in place.  One is that our cd
stations are equipped with dual floppies one of each size.  Another is that
there are a number of computer clusters available near the library (and
we're fighting for one *in* the library) so it doesn't represent a major
hardship to our students & faculty.  Now, if I can just get the director
to ok our selling formatted floppies at circulation ... I don't see that
there is a *major* reduction in service.  Of course, it would require that
students actually pay for information - something I'm not crazy about - so
we may instead start checking out blank disks for an hour to avoid that
problem.

Nicholas Rosselli
Electronic Reference Services
Indiana Univ. Northwest
Rosselli@IUBACS
rosselli@ucs.indiana.edu
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From:         Elizabeth Lane <ELANE3@UA1VM>
Subject:      Re: printing full text from cd-rom

Some CD-ROM products give you the option to disable printing of
full records. When I worked at CIS, our CD-ROM products had
several print formats. We gave users the option (at set-up, not
during program use) of disabling printing of full records. When
this option was used, if a user tried to print in full record
format, they were directed to the save option instead. This
kept users from tying up printers with 10 and 20 page documents,
but still leaves the option available when it's appropriate.

I'd like to see more products providing these kinds of
configurable options.

| Elizabeth Lane                   Internet: elane3@ua1vm.ua.edu |
| University of Alabama            BITNET:   ELANE3@UA1VM        |
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From:    SOLIBJA@GSVMS2.CC.GASOU.EDU (JULIUS ARIAIL)
Subject: RE: printing full text from cd-rom

Let them print.  It will save wear and tear on your paper periodical
collection, at least.  We are allowing "free" printing on the printers
attached to the library workstations with access to our cd rom lan, but
have raised Xerox copy prices from four cents to five cents to cover the
additional cost.

Julius Ariail, Director of Libraries  solibja@gsvms2.cc.gasou.edu
Georgia Southern University           Statesboro, GA  30460
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From: GILL WESTERA <LWESTERAG@cc.curtin.edu.au>
Subject: Re: printing full text from cd-rom

At Curtin University of Technology (Western Australia) students must download
any citations and then have the option of printing them out on a printer in
the CD-ROM area for 25c (Australian) per page.  Students using Business
Periodicals Ondisc pay 25c/page for complete articles.  This seems to work
reasonably well though new users don't realise that they must bring in their
own disk and so must go out of the library to buy a disk.  When Curtin first
started with CD-ROMs students were able to print out citations for free and
though there was a note saying that they were only allowed to print up to 25
references it wasn't long before students realised that they could get away
with printing out more.  The service was abused.  I therefore believe that
downloading is a better option (and also a cheaper one - libraries are so
short of money!).

I hope this helps.

Gill Westera
Email:
 Internet: Westera_G@cc.curtin.edu.au
 Bitnet: Westera_G%cc.curtin.edu.au@cunyvm.bitnet
 UUCP  : uunet!munnari.oz!cc.curtin.edu.au!Westera_G
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU