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Policy regarding using central funds (CULIT budget) for departmental printer repairs. In some cases, scanners, too.

May 13, 2003. Effective immediately. (Minor changes noted below.)

Background
Repairs for departmental printers and scanners have always been expected to be paid through departmental funds. This policy outlines a change to this arrangement to allow the Library to distribute the risk of using older printers in a fairer manner. We anticipate that this will result in a greater economy for the Library while still affording reliable printing for library staff.

Procedure

Step Details
Verify the printer or scanner is not under warrantee or other service contract. Information sometimes available at vendor's and/or manufacturer's web site. DS staff may also be able to assist.
Verify the printer or scanner is "covered" by CULIT.

Printers: Central funding for printer repairs are for "baseline" staff printing. In some instances, " personal" laser printers are also covered if recommended by DS (currently some Brother printers) and young enough (less than four year old?).
Not for Net-Print printers. Not for color printers. Not for ink-jet (or similar) printers. Not for some "personal" laser printers. Use departmental funding for non-"baseline" printers. Contact DS if you have any questions.

Scanners: Please contact DS so we're aware there is a scanner failure. MyDD/ eReserve "Bell & Howell" ones are generally covered. We can discuss if a different scanner should be covered.

Decide on repair vs. replacement.

[Get a repair cost estimate, if appropriate.]

IT Support Providers are expected to use good judgement regarding repair vs. replacement trade-offs. If you have any questions about this judgement, please discuss with DS staff- thank you.

Rule of thumb: Contact DS if the the expected repair costs exceeds half(??) the residual** value of the machine.* (Is this the right amount? Is there a "right" amount?)

Where to get repair estimates, if necessary:

Printer: Please obtain a quote from DLI**** or from The Computing Center (The latter are The Technology Connection's (The Cornell Campus Store) "Repair Partner". Ithaca Times article, 5/14/03.). Only go with another service provider for "good reasons" and after discussing with DS staff. :-)

Scanners: Please discuss with DS staff. Your experience may in turn help us advise others in a similar situation.

If deciding to repair, account for it.
L85-3712-6404

Please email DS <cul-dshelp-l> and put "Printer repair" or "Scanner repair" somewhere in the Subject line of the email. In the message, include:***

  • The final cost. Specify labor costs, if any.
  • What was done and why. (A sentence or two is usually sufficient.)
  • Date service provided.
  • Printer model and CUL barcode number. (S/N only if CUL barcode is unavailable).

If you have a PCard: Write out the CULIT account number AND OBJECT CODE (L85-3712-6404) on your PCard reciept that you submit to CUL Accounting. The object code is the" 6404" portion, and this must be included.

If you don't have a PCard: Write out the CULIT account number AND OBJECT CODE (L85-3712-6404) on the invoice. The object code is the" 6404" portion, and this must be included. Submit the invoice to Mary Beth Lyons, D-LIT Admin, 107 Olin Library.*+*

11/6/06: Clarified that some non-"baseline" personal laser printers repairs might be covered with central funds. Updated contact names within D-LIT Admin.

7/12/06: Changed DS's contact email address to <cul-dshelp-l> from interenal DS list. Editted "repair/ replace" guidelines to acknowledge that getting a formal repair cost estimate is sometimes not necessary or appropriate.

2/14/06: Updated to reflect acknowledge that some CUL scanners should be repaired using central funds.

Centrally-funded scanners (such as Bell&Howells bought for eReserve/ MyDD) might be covered. Please email DS <cul-dshelp-l> if you need a scanner repaired and you want to know if repairs will be covered with central funds.

*+* 5/2/05: Added procedures for staff who don't have access to a PCard. (Updated this 2/14/06 with Michelle Eastman's name.)

**** 12/6/04: Added DLI as an approved printer repair service provider. [6/7/06: Noted that DLI invoices are labelled as coming from EdgeTech, Inc.]

*** 5/2/05; 11/26/03: Added this request to make it easier to capture reported repair costs for quarterly budget reconciling. Expanded to capture more info.

** 5/16/03: Further refinded this sentence by adding word, "residual".

* 5/15/03 and 5/16/03: Trying different wording, thanks to Michelle's input. More thoughts on creating a useful rule-of-thumb for all of us: Somehow tie the value of a repair (that is, what constitutes a reasonable amount to pay for repairs before considering simply replacing) to the age of the printer.
5/16/03: Also, there is a "natural" limit due to the PCard cap of $500. Maybe that is sufficient. Let me know your thoughts!


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