Reuse, recycle … reduce: a greener library with print management
| Published date | 31 August 2012 |
| Pages | 408-417 |
| Date | 31 August 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831211266555 |
| Author | Megan E. Dempsey,Alex Palilonis |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Reuse, recycle ... reduce:
a greener library with print
management
Megan E. Dempsey and Alex Palilonis
Evelyn S. Field Library, Raritan Valley Community College, North Branch,
New Jersey, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of a print management
system to control costs and reduce waste associated with printing practices.
Design/methodology/approach – A paper collection study found that 8 percent of pages printed in
the library were never claimed. A print management system was implemented requiring print jobs to
be manually released by users. Statistics on toner lifespan and number of pages printed before and
after the system was implemented were compared.
Findings – The print management system reduced the total number of pages printed in a semester
by 32 percent from Fall 2009 to Fall 2011 and increased the lifespan of toner cartridges so they would
perform more efficiently.
Practical implications – Implementing a print management system without charging students a
printing fee reduces the amount of wasted paper and the costs associated with purchasing paper and
toner for printing services.
Originality/value – The paper describes the implementation of a print management system in a
library that has substantially reduced the number of pages printed from library computers and the
amount of toner used. The authors believe they have made a significant impact on reducing a primary
area of waste.
Keywords Printmanagement, Printers,Green, Environment,Waste, Academiclibraries, Plant efficiency
Paper type Case study
Introduction
In June 2009, our institution became the first community college in the nation to sign an
environmental stewardship agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency,
committing to sustainable practices and reducing the college’s carbon footprint. The
installation of more recycling bins, energy-efficient lighting, and solar-powered traffic
signs and scoreboards indicated that smallsteps were being taken all around campus –
in addition to impactful strategies like obtaining LEED certification for the new Student
Center building and installing a solar field over one of the parking lots – to support this
initiative. Although the library at the college also received new recycling bins, we were
well aware that much of the printer paper being recycled probably never needed to be
printed in the first place. We decided to determine just how much waste occurred due to
careless printing practices. This project, initially conceived as a fun awareness activity
for Earth Day 2010, led to the implementation of a print management system in the
library that has substantially reduced the number of pages printed from library
computers and the amount of toner used over the course of a semester. We believe we
have made a significant impact on reducing a primary area of waste in the library by
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
30,3
408
Received April 2012
Revised May 2012
Accepted May 2012
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 30 No. 3, 2012
pp. 408-417
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831211266555
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