<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<title></title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
It's usually easy enough to use your favorite print management
solution to handle printing on library-owned computers, regardless
of whether or not the library-owned computer is a desktop/laptop
wired/wireless. However, providing a printer for patrons who bring
their own laptop to the library can be a bit of a pain. The problem
is that there isn't really a universal print driver that can work on
all wireless devices and all printers. There have been a few
half-hearted attempts by various printer manufacturers, but not
sufficient. There are some commercially available options, however,
such as what Lynne mentioned about CASSIE/Librarica. If you usage is
low, however, it can be very hard to justify the costs.<br>
<br>
Until we can find a cost-effective (preferably free open source)
method to print from any device to a wide selection of printers
without needing to do any complex printer driver installation and
configuration on the patron's wireless device, there doesn't seem to
be a whole lot of options. For a few of my libraries that provide
printing for patrons with their own wireless devices, we try to
provide an older, very industry standard printer that is likely to
have drivers built into or readily available to the widest number of
operating systems possible. I like to use older Hewlett-Packard
LaserJet printers because they have been around forever and the
drivers are often readily available in the base operating system
without requiring additional downloads. Then we just have to provide
the IP address and the printer's model to the customer and tell them
"good luck". (The staff can't be placed into a position of trying to
install or configure the drivers on patron devices.) Less than
ideal.<br>
<br>
If anyone has a better way, I'm all ears!<br>
<br>
Also FWIW, Google seems to be working on their own version of
cloud-based printing: <a
href="http://code.google.com/apis/cloudprint/docs/overview.html">http://code.google.com/apis/cloudprint/docs/overview.html</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">______________________________<br>
<b>Chad Neeper</b><br>
<small>Senior Systems Engineer</small><br>
<br>
<b>Level 9 Networks</b><br>
<small>740-548-8070 (voice)<br>
866-214-6607 (fax)</small><br>
<br>
<small><small><i>Full LAN/WAN consulting services -- Specialized
in libraries and schools</i></small></small></div>
<br>
On 9/28/2010 2:07 PM, Sandy Thaxton wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4CA22ECF.8080501@oplin.org" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi everyone,
It was suggested that I post to this list, (Thanks Bob!) as I only
received a couple responses on oplinlist.
Here is my original post:
May I ask how many of you have wireless printing available? How is it
set up? Is it software? Anything you don't like about it?
Thank you!
Sandy Thaxton
MLJ-Hardin County District Library
Kenton, OH 43326
_______________________________________________
OPLINTECH mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:OPLINTECH@lists.oplin.org">OPLINTECH@lists.oplin.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech">http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech</a>
Search: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://oplin.org/techsearch">http://oplin.org/techsearch</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>