Frequently Asked Questions about E-token Printing
- What are E-tokens?
- How do I get an E-token account?
- How do I print single sided from a main library computer?
- What if I only want to print a few pages, not 100?
- Who can help me set up my E-token account or buy more E-tokens?
- Where are the E-token printers?
- Where does my print go when I click on the "print" icon?
- What if I don't have enough E-tokens to cover my printing?
- My E-token job isn't printing!
- Can I print in color?
- More information
What are E-tokens?
To print to any campus Print Services printer (in the Main Library or a computer Lab), you must first set up an electronic token (E-token) account. Each E-token costs 5 cents and pays for one black and white laser printed page. You may also use E-tokens for the library color laser printer, but each page costs 50 cents (10 E-tokens).
How do I get an E-token account?
To create your account, you must purchase a minimum of 100 E-tokens.
- MSU students may also purchase E-tokens with Spartan Cash or at the Computer Store, but it is quicker to buy them online and charge them to your next tuition bill. Go to: https://netprint.msu.edu, login, then click on "purchase E-tokens." If you have any questions about purchasing E-tokens online, please ask at the Main Library Circulation Desk.
- MSU faculty and staff may set up accounts using Spartan Cash or go to the MSU Computer Store, 110 Computer Center, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, pay with cash, check, or charge to Visa/MasterCard or MSU departmental accounts.
How do I print single sided from a main library computer?
In most cases, you can go to the "File" menu, select "Print", then in the pull down menu that allows you to select a printing option select "Single Sided E-Token".
If you are printing from Adobe or another PDF reader click on the print button in the reader and then select "Single Sided E-Token."
What if I only want to print a few pages, not 100?
Library computers can also print at the Copy Center (2-West) for 5 cents per page, payable by cash, check, Visa/MasterCard, or departmental account number. NOTE: A Copy Center job is not printed until you go to the Copy Center to pick it up (which must be done within 2 hours or the print job will be deleted) and there may be others ahead of you. You are responsible for payment of all pages that you ask staff to print, so please keep track of your print jobs, particularly the number of requests you send.
Who can help me set up my E-token account or buy more E-tokens?
In the Main Library, get help at the Main Library Circulation Desk. MSU faculty and staff may use Spartan Cash to purchase E-tokens or go to the MSU Computer Store, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, 110 Computer Center. NOTE: Community users are not eligible for E-token accounts but may print to the Library Copy Center from Main Library "Selected Resources" computers.
Where are the E-token printers?
Each computer prints to one printer in the same area. Before booting a computer, find the printer (in the following areas) so you know where it is:
- 1-East - SE corner (south of East wing elevators)
- 1-East - by the Reference Collection by the north windows
- 1-East - Reference Instruction Room
- 3-East - in the East wing stacks
- Basement - near the Oversize Collection
- 1st floor Lobby (across from the Reference Desk) - 3 printers: two black & white and one color (which costs 10 E-tokens per page)
- 1-West - Cyber Café (by north windows)
- 2-West - across from the Reserves Desk (two black & white printers)
- 4-West - in the Digital & Multimedia Center
Where does my print go when I click on the "print" icon?
- As the default, computers are linked to the nearest E-Token printer and will print double-sided unless you select single-sided printing.
- PCs on 1-East, 1-West, and 2-West have the option to print to the color laser printer for 10 E-tokens per page, but you must select the color printer before printing!
What if I don't have enough E-tokens to cover my printing?
Check your account before you print and buy more E-tokens if needed. If you start a job with more pages than E-tokens in your account, it will finish, leaving a negative account balance. Before you can print again, you will need to buy enough E-tokens to cover the negative balance AND the entire next print job.
My E-token job isn't printing!
DON'T click "print" again (or you will be charged for additional copies). If you don't hear printing, the printer may be in "energy-saver mode." Walk over and listen for "warming up" sounds. If there are sounds, please be patient. If there is no sound, please report it at the Circulation Desk.
Can I print in color?
The Computer Lab has placed a superb color laser printer in the library, but please note that each page costs 10 E-tokens (50 cents). This printer takes a L-O-N-G time to print, as long as it takes a library PC to boot. It has to warm up, because it is seldom used. Then it prints each color separately, slowly, and precisely, but it's worth the wait. You must select the color printer before printing!
For more information:
- See https://netprint.msu.edu
- Ask staff at the Main Library Circulation Desk.
- Call Computer Lab Consultants at 2-6200 or visit them in 120 Computer Center.
Modified: 12/19/07