To think 20p a black and white printout is too dear

[Pistachiocray]

This is in my local library. Surely it can't cost them more than a fraction of this?

The people using the library are the ones that could least afford it.

[dementedpixie]

Have you seen the price of ink? ?

[RidersOnTheStorm]

Seems reasonable to me. Some places charge 50p - £1.

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Ink is expensive and as someone who prints a lot it doesn't go that far either.

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

Libraries are closing up and down the country-they can't afford to subsidise photocopying/printing of all things. YABU-ink is expensive and we are very lucky to have access to libraries.

[Shakirasma]

Well I suppose people could buy their own computer, printer, broadband, ink and paper. 20p for a good quality printout seems like a bit of a bargain then, not forgetting the tech support that the staff frequently end up providing too!

[MsJamieFraser]

No I would say that's very cheap, it's not just the cost of the ink and paper, there is electricity and the cost of the printer as well which includes maintance.

[allnewredfairy]

Given that library services are struggling I think 20p per sheet is reasonable. Although where I live schoolkids get the first three sheets free then it's 1p per sheet mono and 7p colour which is ridiculously low.
Our local uni charges HE students 6p mono/ 20p colour.

[GloGirl]

Yabu

[londonrach]

Over 15 years ago i paid 10p per sheet at uni. Giving cost of ink now im surprised they not charging 50p per sheet. 20p a bargain! I just paid £18 for my new ink cartridge which will again only last a couple of weeks. Sometimes think its cheaper to fill the printer with wine than ink!

[DollyMcDolly]

20p is very cheap. YABU

[Pistachiocray]

Cheap?

I bought an all in one printer 5 years ago for 20. Deliberately bought one with cheap running costs (

[PerspicaciaTick]

Our library charges 10p B&W, 50p colour. Free Wi-Fi, free scanning, free person to help you out if/when you get stuck. I think it is a bargain.

[WildeWoman]

Hah! This is on my mind at the mo'. In the past two days, I have joined two libraries (one on either side of me, two different London boroughs).
One costs 10p per B&W, the other 12p.

[cashewnutty]

If you do a lot of printing then buying your own printer etc might prove more cost effective. The library at 20p a sheet will be a godsend to those who can't afford a printer and find themselves needing to print a few things out.

A library print service down south was a saviour to me recently when i was visiting my DD 500 miles away and had my purse stolen along with my ID for flying home. MY DH (who was at home) was able to scan and send copies of documents to me to print off and use to get me home. I don't know what i paid but it was few pounds much compared with having to possibly shell out for a train ticket home!

[AristotlesTrousers]

Libraries are closing up and down the country-they can't afford to subsidise photocopying/printing of all things. YABU-ink is expensive and we are very lucky to have access to libraries.

This^^

[gingerdad]

It costs us at work - small company .5 per print/copy for black and white so add the paper at about 1p. And will be costing them 1.5p per print/copy. So to me 10p would be more than enough. We pay 6p for full colour.

[gingerdad]

They use toner not ink.

[Diamogs]

Doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

As others have said toner is expensive.

[WildeWoman]

Actually, just have the leaflets beside me here.

Library A:
A4 - B&W - 12p; Colour - 25p
2 hours' free internet access per day. All day free wifi.

Library B:
A4 - B&W - 10p; Colour - 80p
1/2 hour free internet access per day. All day free wifi.

There is approximately 2 or 3 miles between these two libraries, so either one is more efficient at sourcing cheaper suppliers, or the other one is more heavily subsidised by the council.

[WildeWoman]

Just to contrast, if you go into an internet cafe, you will probably pay at least £1 for a half hour internet access plus, 25p per B&W page.

I love libraries!

[JenEric]

You aren't just paying for a piece of paper. It is a way for struggling libraries to recoup the costs of:
The PCs you use
The electricity they use
The wifi you have free access to
The staff who help if you need it
The printers they use
The paper they use
The toner they use

That's before we even touch on the other costs of a library.

The PCs in libraries are there with the idea that people who can't afford a PC or Internet can access these things for free. Printing is an extra and most won't need it. It is one of the few things you pay for. Besides which I'm sure library staff have some discretion if say a person they knew with zero cash was trying to print a cv.

[SaucyJack]

I've needed to print one single thing off in recent memory. Was very happy to go to my library 5 mins up the road and pay a few pence to do it meself.

YABU from me.

[BlueMoonRising]

At my last employment, the machine we had cost us 1.7p per B&W sheet plus VAT. 7p per colour +VAT. That covered the consumables (toner as it was laser) but not the paper.

In addition the maintenance contract was a significant sum of money every quarter - can't recall how much but I remember being surprised at the cost.

Add in the time of the person that is doing the work for you (presumably you don't do it yourself) - lets say they are on £10 per hour, and lets add on £2.50 to cover NI/pension etc. 1 minute of their time is over 20p, just itself.

So I think 20p isn't bad.

[Pistachiocray]

I don't think its fair to factor in the cost of WiFi, staff etc, electricity for a printout is virtually nothing. You don't pay for WiFi. Computer use borrowing books in a library, it to did I'd agree to factoring in the costs.

Last time I used in an internet cafe in north london it was 12p a page in 2014.

Several people have said the cost of the printout is between 2-3p therefore the sweet spot for me is 6-10p.

[mrsjskelton]

Cost of the printer maintenance, IT person, computer use, Internet connection, cleaner, lighting, library staff... 20p is okay.