K-State uses new technology in Hale library

After fall break there was a small change in the library. A new printing policy took effect over the weekend and caused some glitches for students trying to print.

"If students did not have their student ID card then they were not able to print," said Becky Gould, director of information technology assistant center. "From now on, students will have to bring their card if they want to print anything in the library, no exceptions."

The library officially switched over to their new system on Oct. 5.

Craig Johnson, assistant director of the K-State Student Union, said the old system, implemented in 1997, was getting outdated and time-consuming.

"To make things much easier for everyone, we decided to consolidate both systems." Johnson said. "This includes the small gold Smart Chip on the front of student ID cards and the black magnetic strip on the back called the Cat Cash. We will be phasing out the gold chips to make way for the new system."

Johnson says the iTAC and ID center in the Union had been collaborating since last year to order the new software and update their systems. Originally, students were given $10 on their chip for printing purposes, and that has not changed; the only major change is getting rid of the chip on the front of everyone's card.

However, students were still able to use their Cat Cash for other purposes. But the new system will just be on the Cat Cash magnetic strip, instead of both the chip and the strip.

"We wanted to make it simple for students, and by using this new system we are cutting down on the repair costs of the chip readers you see next to the printer," Gould said. "By buying the new software for the new system, we are offsetting and saving on the costs of using the chip readers."

Johnson said the cost to replace just one of the 18 chip readers on campus runs at $1,200, and the cost to repair one was running at $400.

"Hardware to read the chips was just getting too expensive, or some of the machines needed to be replaced, and the customer service wasn't very good," Johnson said. "All in all, it just made more sense to move everything to the back of the card and onto the Cat Cash system."

Students will have to carry their student ID card with them any time they want to print in the library. Gould said students will have to log onto the computer with their eID and password at any of the printing stations, and they will now have to swipe their ID card.

Gould said new student ID cards will not have the chip, but no new cards will have to be issued unless a student loses or damages their card.

"The technology was moving toward the aspect of safety, and it is easier to track the money on the Cat Cash system if the card is lost or stolen," said Ernie Perez, instructional technology manager for iTAC. "However, students should remember that they cannot use a friend's card or share anyone's cards to log onto the system to print. Otherwise the person who owns the cards will not be able to use it the next time."

Gould said the money on students' cards will not be affected by the changes in the policy. Everyone still has $10 in the fall and spring semesters and $5 for the summer.

However, Gould said if students still have money on their Smart Chip they will need to go to the student ID center and transfer it over to their Cat Cash system. Students can then add money or track their cards on ksu.managemyid.com. If students have any questions, they should either ask the iTAC department or the student ID center in the Union.