In this post we explore the importance of printing services provided by public libraries. We look at how much libraries are charging for print outs and the significance of this revenue stream. Wireless print interest has been rocketing in libraries over recent years, so we take a look at this trend. Finally, if you’ve ever wanted to know what people are printing, there’s an interesting overview of document types library customers are choosing to print.

Libraries have long been popular places for printing documents. Ever since its launch over 20 years ago, the People’s Network of library computers has offered a reliable way to print. In fact it’s true to say that we’re far away from becoming a paperless society. These days, at least one in five public computer sessions involve printing. So our latest survey findings are hardly surprising – that 100% of public libraries consider it important to allow users to print from PCs, and that over 70% rate it essential.

Printing also represents a significant source of revenue for libraries. With funding ruthlessly cut over successive budgets, any revenue streams libraries can generate are incredibly important. Talking to netloan public libraries, printing is often the first or second largest source they have.

Print revenue isn’t something that makes any headlines though. Despite its significance, it doesn’t even register as a distinct revenue source. It’s hidden in the ‘Miscellaneous receipts from the public’ category in the annual CIPFA reports, lumped in with damaged books, badges and carrier bags.

As more libraries stop fining for overdue items, print revenue becomes even more significant. What libraries charge for printouts is therefore critical to get right. Too high and it disadvantages those users on lower income, too low and it disadvantages the library. 

Print charges

Lorensbergs researched just how much libraries are charging for their printouts. Here are the results for both black and white and colour A4 printing and then the same for A3. Full results are also available for download here.

It should be noted that a few libraries are not currently charging for printing and so not included in this price summary – more on this below. As you can see from the above data, some libraries charge seven times more for A4 black and white print jobs than others, and in excess of fifteen times more for colour. There are going to be massive differences in the amounts of revenue generated. For library authorities with fewer sites it could make a difference of over £60k over the course of a year. For larger ones, it could be as much as £250k difference.

Most libraries have a straightforward price list for printing. Others offer reductions in certain circumstances, e.g. some libraries give a discount to children or for larger print orders, usually starting from between 10 to 30 copies. Just over half advertise A3 printing in addition to A4.

Wireless printing

Of course, it’s not just PC printing that is supported in the library. Wireless printing has become increasingly commonplace since Lorensbergs launched its netloan Wi-Fi print software in 2015. It was the first BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) printing system designed specifically for public libraries. The need for customers to print from their own devices led to fast adoption of the new technology.

A public library recently told us that nearly 40% of their Wi-Fi use is for printing documents. It’s something which is now widely expected in the library with “Why can’t we?” becoming a common refrain if it’s not supported from phones, laptops and tablets. Such is the demand we’ve continued to develop our Wi-Fi printing capabilities and our relaunched netloan module has been very well received. It’s been developed to simplify and speed up the printing experience so users have more time in the library to enjoy other services once their printing is done.

 Above: Our first netloan Wi-Fi print user at Staffordshire Libraries in 2015

It’s also equally easy to print from home as it is in the library, so it has great potential to raise footfall by attracting more home and hybrid workers, students and others.

Making payment

As with other library services, equity of access is important, but what happens if you don’t have a bank card and your library isn’t accepting cash payment for your printouts? The pandemic has propelled the move towards cashlessness, mostly for hygiene reasons. It’s a trend that was initially driven by the need to save costs as processing cash can be expensive. Unfortunately there are approximately 1.2 million people in the UK without bank accounts and unable to make payment by card. Unaccompanied schoolchildren are another case in point. Libraries are grappling with the best way to overcome the challenge this presents.

From our print research we’ve noted some workarounds that have been in place. Around 5 UK libraries haven’t been charging for printing, usually allowing a maximum print run of 5 or 10 pages. One library is allowing free printing up to a ‘reasonable amount’. Another one is waiving all printing charges for ‘personal use’. Others are allowing free homework printing. It’s yet to be seen if these free printing services will continue or if libraries will reinstate this revenue stream.

Self-service printing

One of the best ways to maximise existing print revenue is to install self-service payment and release methods. Providing a quick way to pay for print jobs and avoid queuing can increase print volumes by up to 66%. Plus it means staff aren’t burdened with these transactions. Staff time is the most valuable resource within a library service but also the one that costs the most. Self-service helps ensure it’s never frittered away.

The availability of kiosk payments is also said to encourage more printing of confidential documents, with users more comfortable to print these when it’s a self-service arrangement. Data protection and privacy are certainly important considerations in libraries’ choices of printing software. It’s something that the library has tight control over with netloan. As well as offering self-service options, libraries can configure how long print jobs are retained to facilitate collection, reprints and no more. Then there’s the cloud processing of print jobs for netloan Wi-Fi print which instantaneously deletes print data once jobs have been processed and sent back to the library for release. No data is kept a minute longer than necessary.

Print requirements

So what are users printing in the library? It’s a question we asked in a recent customer survey. Here are the results:

Above: Most frequently printed items, Netloan Customer Survey Results 2020

So there’s a fairly broad range of items being printed in libraries. Usually users are printing their own documents, although they may nip into the library to help out elderly relatives who are less likely to use soft copies of boarding passes or cinema tickets on a phone. The greatest volume of printing though is by jobseekers printing their CVs. It’s yet another way that libraries are helping users to stay in work and progress their careers. In fact, the availability of PC and print services in libraries has become a strategic consideration for local government, as a way of supporting employment rates and economic recovery.

Within each library site, print services also support partnership working. Increasingly, libraries have become the customer-facing part of the council, with other services being supported or co-located. A myriad of forms and ID requirements lead to the need to get online and, of course, to print off documents when applying for council services.

Libraries also invest in premium database subscriptions, from newspaper archives to genealogy resources. Printing services build on this investment, with users printing off their research findings from sources they would not otherwise be able to access or afford from home.

The popularity of printing services in the library continues and it’s been interesting to trace demand extending from library computers to personal devices. At Lorensbergs, we look forward to continuing our support for public libraries, enabling printing that meets user expectations and that staff are proud to provide.