Latest PRINT Strategy Update
24th September 2008
Further progress made in developing LJMU's PRINT infrastructure for staff and students
LJMU is working with IKON Office Solutions, which is now an independent subsidiary of Ricoh, to help the University provide more efficient printing and photocopying services - from the perspective of students in the Learning Resource Centres and individual staff working in their offices right through to the Print Room.
IKON is helping LJMU to improve document workflow and change how everyone - staff and students - uses printers and photocopiers. Around 180 new devices have already been installed. In the next three months most of the remaining areas of the university, including the main Byrom Street site, will see the arrival of new multi-functional devices (MFDs) and labelling of legacy printers. The balanced model of new and legacy devices together with the Print Room and a print broker service through the Print Room provide LJMU’s PRINT infrastructure.
This pioneering change and strategic approach to managing PRINT – printing, photocopying and scanning – opens the way to improved document management and workflow. New equipment in student areas, offices and the Print Room replaces outdated and poorly performing printers and copiers. The new MFDs are much more efficient in power consumption, are set for double sided printing as the default, and provide a much safer working environment given their impressive environmental credentials. Additionally, recycled paper is now the norm for use in the Print Room and throughout the fleet of MFDs.
Services offered by LJMU's Print Room have already been transformed thanks to the installation of new IKON TRAC software and new equipment. Click here for more information.
Business Support Officer Sally Gannon (Infrastructure Planning), who is overseeing the roll out of the new print strategy, explains: "LJMU uses a lot of paper and if we are serious about reducing our impact on the environment we must change how we print and copy documents. This means using more recycled paper and greener printing processes as part of our institutional-wide print strategy. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the total volume of printing and photocopying that takes place across the University."
One of the most exciting features of the new system is the ability to collect print outs from any networked printer fitted with a card reader, in any LJMU building, regardless of where your office is.
Say you are based in Kingsway House but you are teaching in Tithebarn Street, you can send your files to print and then walk across to the other building and collect your print outs from there," says Sally. "It's known as 'follow me printing' and it's been installed in the LRCs for students with very positive results."
This enhanced facility is already making it easier for students to print out their work and have their print accounts charged accordingly. The priority now is to ensure that staff devices have the same ‘Tap and Print’ functionality, enabling staff to print out documents in all LJMU buildings and still have costs correctly assigned to their Faculty, School or Service team budget.
"It must be stressed that our objective is not to take away individual printers but rather to work with staff to give them a more flexible, high standard printing and photocopying service that can both meet their needs today and evolve to meet their future requirements," continues Sally. "Print Champions are all important. They are the staff designated to co-ordinate local assessment of requirements and to help with training".
Work on LJMU's print strategy began over three years ago and has involved a comprehensive review of how the institution manages its printing and photocopying services. Developed as part of the University's corporate social responsibility agenda, the strategy is being implemented in three phases:
Phase One, involving the Learning Resource Centres, and departments based in Rodney Street, the Tower and Kingsway House, was completed in early 2008 and is now being further refined to ensure the right machines are correctly located and the balanced model of new MFDs and legacy printers is working well. Lessons learnt from this first phase of implementation have proved invaluable for Phases Two and Three.
Phase Two, incorporating facilities at IM Marsh, Dean Walters and the John Foster Building was completed during the summer and final configuration for full functionality is likely to be achieved by the end of October.
The PRINT facilities in Byrom Street and other remaining LJMU buildings will be upgraded during Phase Three, with a target completion date of the end of December. Again, changes will only be implemented following extensive consultation with Print Champions on specific printing requirements in their areas.
For more information, click here.
