Wireless printing from laptops comes to Kennedy Library

If they could ahve wireless printing service that would be really cool. — Cal Poly Undergraduate

With 15,000 Library laptop rentals per year, widespread laptop ownership among Cal Poly students, and a high-speed wireless network available anywhere in the Library, using a laptop to print would be much more convenient for students than printing from workstations in the Library's computer labs.

Now laptop users in the Library can take advantage of low-cost PolyCard printing in the Library, printing directly from their laptop to any Library printers.

Student research played key role

Student research conducted in BUS 418 ("Listening to the Customer", Winter 2010) played a key role in making the case for wireless laptop printing in the Library, with several student teams learning that wireless laptop printing would be highly popular with students, eliminating the need for laptop owners to locate another computer in the Library in order to print out homework, reports, and notes.

The Library made it a priority to implement wireless printing spring quarter, and worked with campus ITS to make it happen.

How wireless printing works

As of spring quarter 2010, laptop users on the campus wireless network (MustangWireless) can now print to any PolyCard printer in the Library. Students install the print driver on their own laptop (instructions below), choose a printer, swipe their polycard and pick up their print jobs.

In addition, most Library loaner laptops are also configured for wireless PolyCard printing.

Instructions for printing from your own laptop

  1. Install the print driver to your laptop
    1. Download the print driver
    2. Install (following screen directions)
    3. Once drivers are installed on a laptop, "PolyCard printers — Library" will show up as a printer option for anyone using the MustangWireless network.
  2. Print
    1. Select the Library printers
    2. Walk to any Library PolyCard printer
    3. Swipe your card
    4. Pick up your job

PolyCard printing is a service operated by ITS to deliver non-profit printing services to students campus-wide.

For more information stop by the Library's PolyConnect Lab service desk on the first floor, or the Learning Commons desk on the second floor.