While printing from the comfort of your couch may sound convenient, some OU students aren't pleased.
Camden Haverfield can’t print papers at Alden Library. Mallory Walsh can’t either.
Neither of the sophomores have Bobcat Cash.
Since June 29, Ohio University’s libraries require students to pay for printing at public printers with Bobcat Cash via their OU ID cards.
“I don’t know of anybody that really does have Bobcat Cash...I’ll probably find a different way to print,” Haverfield, who is studying recreation management, said.
The new systems means students no longer face registration holds on their student account for unpaid printing fees.
“I think it would be cool if they did it for Flex and Bobcat Cash just because I don’t know a whole lot of people who use Bobcat Cash compared to Flex,” Walsh, who is studying outdoor education recreation, said.
Previously, students could only print from a university desktop computer, but now, both Athens and Dublin campus students are able to print from certain campus printers — using their own computer, phone or tablet — by uploading the documents to myprintercenter.ohio.edu or emailing docuements to mobileprint@ohio.edu.
“Students can now print from any libraries computer to any libraries printer,” Carrie Preston, the head of web services at Alden Library, said in an email. “If the first printer they try is out of order, they're able to just go directly to another printer, rather than being forced to return to a computer, log in, and resend their document.”
Staffs from the Office of Information Technology and One Card Office helped Alden roll out the new printer payment method, Preston said.
“I've observed numerous students using the new system successfully,” Preston said.
Stephanie Filippi, a sophomore studying marketing and psychology, likes using Bobcat Cash to print, she said.
“I think it’s really nice because a lot of students use Bobcat Cash...it’s helpful,” Filippi said.
The new pay-to-print method is available in Alden Library, Baker University Center, Copeland, Glidden, Lindley and Porter halls.
Printers in the Academic Research Center and Grover Center are switching to Bobcat Cash payment soon, according to the One Card website, which manages ID card functions at OU.
@megankhenry
