Over the holiday break Scott Library installed seven new Xerox digital copiers on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. They may look familiar since, in October, the Library conducted a trial of the very same model. During the trial we asked for feedback from our users, and the response was overwhelmingly favorable.

The new digital copiers have more in common with a modern scanner and laser printer than with the OCE photocopiers the Library used previously. Digital copiers scan the page from a book or journal and then print it. This process creates a better quality copy than you got with the old copiers.

The one difference everyone will notice right away is that the new copiers are much smaller then the old copiers, freeing up space on the 2nd floor. Also, there are only four copiers instead of five on the 2nd floor. Three are located in one copy room and the fourth is now located in the Reference area. As more and more resources become available electronically, the number of copies being made by photocopiers has decreased, thereby decreasing the need for as many copiers. The Library is discussing turning the unused copy room on the 2nd floor into a small study space.

In addition to better quality copies and smaller size, the digital copiers also have other advantages over the old OCE copiers. Book copying is a feature that copies both pages of a book or journal in one step. No more readjusting the position of the book on the copier for each page, or having to turn as many pages. Simply position both sides of the book on the glass, program the copier, and start copying. Each side of the item will be copied onto a separate sheet of paper, but both sides will be scanned and printed at the same time. Instructions on how to do book copying are posted next to each copier.

Another new feature concerns the copier located in the Reference area and the copier on the 4th floor. These two copiers have been equipped with a printing option that allows them to be connected to computers and to work as printers. This printing feature is the main reason why one copier is now kept in the 2nd floor Reference area. While photocopying has decreased over the last few years, laser printing has increased. Now, all of the computers on the 4th floor will be able to print using the copier. This gives users a second printer to use during the hours when Scott Library is closed. All of the computers on the 2nd floor will be able to print to the copier in the reference area, giving users a 2nd laser quality printer to use when the Pharos printer is unavailable. The printing feature should be available sometime in late January, 2004.

The few negative comments submitted about the Xerox copiers primarily expressed concern about their speed, as they seemed to take a lot longer to make a copy compared to the older OCE copiers. To investigate this complaint a time check comparing the Xerox with the OCE copiers was done. It took the OCE and the Xerox copiers about the same time to make a single copy and, when you consider that we are expecting fewer jams with the new Xerox copiers, the time savings should increase.

Come over, try them out, and let us know what you think of them.

Contact Kevin Block, Access Services Manager, (Kevin.Block@jefferson.edu) with any questions about the new copiers.