Printing, Copying, Scanning, and Faxing at the Library

Last Updated: Oct 25, 2024 Views: 219035

*Print/copy/scan/fax are not available on SFPL Bookmobiles

Library card holders are eligible for $2 of free copying/printing per patron per day. Use your library card number to log into library computers or when sending mobile print jobs for free printing.

At the Library

Printing, copying, scanning and faxing stations are available at every library location. Print jobs can be sent from a public computer in the library or from offsite (See Print from Home / Mobile printing, below).

There is a charge for printing and copying in excess of $2. Payment can be made by credit or debit card and Apple and Google Pay; for cash payments, $1 and $5 bills, nickel, dimes and quarters are accepted. Note, change is only issued after prints/copies are made.

Scanning to email, fax or USB drive is free.

Faxing is free for numbers in the United States. SFPL multi-functional devices will not fax to international phone numbers.

Microfilm and microfiche readers/scanners are available at the Main Library in the Magazines and Newspapers Center. Scanned images may be saved to a USB drive or saved via email message. No appointment is necessary to use the reader/scanners, and staff are available to assist.

Printing and copying options include:

Multiple copies (you select how many)
Black & White (B&W) or Color
- B&W is $0.10 per page
- Color is $0.40 per page
Duplex (one-sided or double-sided)
Layout (portrait or landscape)
Page range (all pages in the document or selected pages)

Print from home / Mobile printing

San Francisco Public Library Mobile Printing

Use the cloud to send documents or web pages (up to 100MB in size) from your personal computer, laptop, phone, or tablet to one of our Library printers! 

Notes for Mobile Devices: We recommend printing from your device's web browser. SFPL does not currently support printing from the ePrintit! App. If you usually access library resources via the SFPL app, you will need to exit the app and visit sfpl.org/print via web browser to print.

To print from your personal computing device:

Go to Mobile Printing.
Add documents to be printed to your print queue:

Either drag-and-drop files from your computer into the Select File box where it reads, Drag and drop your files here or
Click the orange button that reads, Select File in the middle of that box in order search for files on your device

NOTE: You may include multiple documents to print in one large job by simply dragging-and-dropping additional files or repeatedly clicking Select File and selecting additional documents

Each document added to your print queue can then be adjusted individually. Some user options are:

Multiple copies (you select how many)
Black & White (B&W) or Color

B&W is $0.10 per page

Color is $0.40 per page

Duplex (one-sided or double-sided)
Layout (portrait or landscape)
Page range (all pages in the document or selected pages)

NOTE: Library printers print on 8 1/2" x 11" or 8 1/2" x 14" paper.

When all adjustments have been made, an estimated total cost for all print jobs in the queue will display

Enter User Information to be notified that your job has successfully been sent and to learn how to retrieve the job at the library

Enter your SFPL card number in the required field Guest Name/Card Number

If you do not have an SFPL card, enter a unique username that you can remember when you arrive at the library

Enter an email address for the system to send you an email with your username and job sent confirmation

Enter a mobile phone number for the system to send you a text message with your username and job sent confirmation

NOTE: you can request BOTH an email and a text
Your print job information also will display on your device screen when you submit

Click Submit
Go to ANY SFPL location and retrieve your print job(s) from ANY public print station

Documents are held in the cloud for 24 hours before being deleted.
Accessible features can be accessed on this page by clicking on the accessibility symbol.
Patrons can print emails by clicking on Email Printing at the bottom of the library’s ePRINTit page and then forwarding emails to the appropriate email address:
- For B&W jobs: bw-sfpl@eprintitsaas.com
- For Color jobs: color-sfpl@eprintitsaas.com
- Note: $2 free printing is not available when printing emails from personal computers and mobile devices.