Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Shared printer?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Nov 20, 2024, at 3:41 PM, Helen Svoboda-Barber <h.svoboda.barber [at] 
> gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Does your community use a shared printer?  If so, what model do you use and
> how do you keep track of costs?  Pros/Cons/Advice?

I think we have a Brother 3 in 1 but any printer that connects online will 
work. It is attached to our intranet so people can print from their units. It 
works well until someone accidentally turns off the printer or it runs out of 
paper. A pointperson checks to be sure the paper tray is full, and the 
cartridge doesn’t need to be replaced.

We ask people to replace the paper or use their own paper when they do large 
printings and to donate a cartridge every once in a while.

We’ve been doing this for over 20 years. People don’t need to print as often as 
they used to, so it isn't high maintenance now. And in emergencies more 
households have printers so one is usually available.

It’s a high-value, low-use asset.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org