Printing, Copying & Scanning

All of our locations have multifunction machines you can use to print, copy and scan or you can request that we copy a few pages from a book or print publication in our collection with our photocopy request form. There is a small fee for self-service printing and photocopying. Currently, printing and photocopying is cash only.   Scanning is free, but does require a USB flash drive, except on Level 5 at the Central Library, where there are two flatbed scanners attached to computers.

Printing Options

Print from a Library Workstation

  1. Login into a Library computer using your Library card or guest pass number and pin.
  2. Find the document or web page you want to print and select the Print button (if available) or type ctrl-P.
  3. Select either BlackandWhite_Printer on tbssrv if printing in black and white, or Color_Printer on tbssrv if you’re printing in color.
    (If using Chrome, also select Color from the Color menu on the print dialog box.)
  4. A Print Job Notification will pop-up on your screen indicating the Document Name, Printer, Pages, and Cost. Select OK option before going to print release station.
  5. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  6. At the print release station you will find a touchscreen with two options: Card Number/Webprint User or Cash Copies. Select Card Number/Webprint User.
  7. Type in your Library card or guest pass number.
  8. Put money in coin and/or dollar bill slot.
  9. Select the individual print jobs you would like to print and press Print job(s), or you can select the Print All option. Prints come out on the left-hand side of the machine.
  10. Press Log off to receive your change and exit the print release station.

Print using email

  1. For black and white copies, send or forward an email to  seattlepl-bw@printspots.com
  2. For color copies, send or forward an email to seattlepl-color@printspots.com
  3. Your order will be sent to the printer using the email’s subject line as the name of the print job; email attachments you wish to print will be sent to the printer as a separate document.
  4. You’ll get a confirmation email when we’ve received your print order; pick up your print job at any of our print release stations by entering your email user name (the part before the @ symbol) in the Card Number/Webprint User field.
  5. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  6. At the print release station you will find a touchscreen with two options:  Card Number/Webprint User or Cash Copies. Select Card Number/Webprint User.
  7. Type in your Library card or guest pass number.
  8. Put money in coin and/or dollar bill slot.
  9. Select the individual print jobs you would like to print and press Print job(s), or you can select the Print All option. Prints come out on the left-hand side of the machine.
  10. Press Log off to receive your change and exit the print release station.

Print using a browser (or Wi-Fi printing)

  1. Go to  www.spl.org/wifiprinting
  2. Under  Printer, choose  Black and White or  Color
  3. Under  User Info, enter your Library card number or  Guest Name
    (Use your Guest Name to identify yourself when you pick up your print job. You can use your email user name--the part before the @ symbol—or any name you will remember).
  4. Under  Select Document, browse to upload and print a document from your device, or you can copy and paste the address of a web page you wish to print.
  5. Click the  gray arrow to continue.
  6. Under Printing Options, choose the page orientation ( As Saved will print the document in its current format) and number of copies.
  7. Indicate which pages you wish to print, if not the whole document.
  8. Click the  gray arrow to continue.
  9. Review your print job and cost, then click the printer icon to send it to the printer. You will then see a confirmation page with a job reference number.
  10. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  11. At the print release station you will find a touchscreen with two options:  Card Number/Webprint User or Cash Copies. Select Card Number/Webprint User.
  12. Type in your Library card or guest pass number.
  13. Put money in coin and/or dollar bill slot.
  14. Select the individual print jobs you would like to print and press Print job(s), or you can select the Print All option. Prints come out on the left-hand side of the machine.
  15. Press Log off to receive your change and exit the print release station.

Print using a mobile device

  1. You can print by email from your mobile device, or download the free PrinterOn app
  2. Click No Printer Selected to search for a printer
  3. From the  Printers screen, search for Seattle Public Library and select Black and White or  Color printer; you can add the printer to your favorites for future use
  4. Choose which type of document you want to print: a document from your device or the cloud, a photo from your gallery, or a web page
  5. Open Print Options and choose the number of copies, the pages to print, orientation and paper size, then click OK
  6. Click Print to enter your Library card number or  Guest Name (You can use your email user name—the part before the @ symbol—or any name you will remember), then click OK to process your request
  7. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  8. At the print release station you will find a touchscreen with two options:  Card Number/Webprint User or Cash Copies. Select Card Number/Webprint User.
  9. Type in your Library card or guest pass number.
  10. Put money in coin and/or dollar bill slot.
  11. Select the individual print jobs you would like to print and press Print job(s), or you can select the Print All option. Prints come out on the left-hand side of the machine.
  12. Press Log off to receive your change and exit the print release station.

Photocopying

Multifunction machines for photocopying are available. There are two types of multifunction machines, and instructions will vary. 

  1. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  2. At the print release station you will find a touchscreen with two options: Card Number/Webprint User or Cash Copies. Select Cash Copies.
  3. Put money in coin and/or dollar bill slot.
  4. Put paper you wish to copy, with the side you want to copy face down, on glass. 1. (For multiple pages, you may use the sheet feeder on the top of the machine. Pages should face up.)
  5. If required, use the touch screen to change paper size, enlarge, or select a double-sided option.
  6. On the multifunction machine, press copy.
  7. On the right-hand side of the multifunction machine there are two large buttons.
    • The blue button at the top is for color copies.
    • The black and white button is for black and white copies.
      or
    • On the copier’s touchpad, touch the blue Color Start button for color copies.
    • On the copier’s touchpad, touch the white B/W Start button for black and white copies.
  8. Pick up your copies on the left-hand side of the machine, and retrieve your change from coin box.

Printing and Photocopy Fees

8½” x 11” or 8½” x 14” Single-sided Black and White $0.15
8½” x 11” or 8½” x 14” Double-sided Black and White $0.30
8½” x 11” or 8½” x 14” Single-sided Color $0.50
8½” x 11” or 8½” x 14” Double-sided Color $1
11”x17” Single-sided Black and White $0.30
11”x17” Double-sided Black and White $0.60
11”x17” Single-sided Color $1
11”x17” Double-sided Color $2

Scanning

Multifunction machines for photocopying are available for public use for free. You will need a USB drive. There are two types of multifunction machines, so instructions will vary.

  1. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  2. Plug a USB drive into the USB port on the front of the machine.
  3. On the multifunction machines select Scan to USB on the bottom right corner of the screen
  4. Select USB Mem. Scan (middle tab).
  5. Put the paper you wish to scan, with the side you want to scan face down, on the glass. (For multiple pages, you may use the sheet feeder on the top of the machine. Pages should face up.)
  6. If you want to name your file, select File Name, and type using the onscreen keypad.
  7. On the right-hand side of the multifunction machine there are two large buttons.
    • The blue button at the top is for color scans
    • The black and white button is for black and white scans
  8. After the last page scans, press Read-End button.
  9. Remove the USB drive from the front of machine.

or

  1. Locate print release station. If you cannot locate one, ask staff at your location.
  2. Plug a USB drive into the USB port on the front of the machine.
  3. On the multifunction machines select Scan to USB on the bottom right corner of the screen
  4. On the multifunction machine’s touchpad, press the Scan to Ext. Memory button
  5. To name your file, touch in the File Name box and type using the on-screen keypad or the retractable physical keypad.
  6. Press the blue start button. (The machine defaults to Color Mode, which can be changed to black and white by pressing the button that says Color Mode.)
  7. On the right-hand side of the multifunction machine there are two large buttons.
    • The blue button at the top is for color scans
    • The black and white button is for black and white scans
  8. After the last page scans, press Read-End button.
  9. Remove the USB drive from the front of machine.

Scanning Workstations

We have two scanning workstations with 8½” x 14” scanners that have film/negative scanning capability on Level 5 Mixing Chamber at the Central Library. You can use them for online faxing and scanning for up to 30 minutes per session.

BookScan Stations

We have two BookScan stations available for public use on Levels 9 and 10 at the Central Library. Features include scanning to a USB flash drive, translation services (60 languages) and scanning text to audio.

If you have a question or need help, Ask Us or call 206-386-4636.

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