Notice: The Hollander Makerspace will be closed during break week from April 27 through May 5, and will return with summer hours on May 6. Project consultations are available by appointment the week of April 29.  
Notice: The Hollander Makerspace will be closed during break week from April 27 through May 5, and will return with summer hours on May 6. Project consultations are available by appointment the week of April 29.  
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Notice: WE ARE CASHLESS! The Hollander MakeCentral Service Desk will no longer accept cash payments. We will continue to accept: Debit/Credit, SpartanCash or Check payments. Thank you for your understanding.
Notice: WE ARE CASHLESS! The Hollander MakeCentral Service Desk will no longer accept cash payments. We will continue to accept: Debit/Credit, SpartanCash or Check payments. Thank you for your understanding.
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Michigan State University Libraries
Publishing Services
366 W. Circle Dr.
East Lansing , MI 48824
United States

Pricing Information

Publishing Services offers perfect (glue) bound, paperback book printing. Book pages are printed on letter sheets (8.5 wide x 11 tall), bound, and then trimmed to the desired final size. In addition to books, Publishing Services also offers booklet or zine printing as a publishing option. Booklets are printed either on ledger sheets (17" wide x 11" tall) or letter sheets (11" wide by 8.5" tall), folded in half, and bound on the center fold with staples. They can be printed in B/W or Color and can be trimmed down to smaller sizes as desired.

Setup Fee 

$10.00 Setup for books only*

  • Staff will assess files for print readiness.
  • Each revision after the original setup will be charged $5.00.
  • Setup Fee is waived for currently enrolled MSU students.

*Additional formatting or consultation will be charged at a rate of $40.00 per hour.

Per-Book Printing Costs

After the initial setup, each book or booklet is printed on a price-per-page basis:

  • Books: Eight dollars base price plus two and one-half cents per page.
  • Booklets: Three dollars base price plus two and one-hand cents per page.
  • Color-printed interior pages: additional ten cents per color page.
  • Mixed B/W and Color interiors: additional ten cents per color-printed page. There may be an additional formatting costs if B/W pages are composite RGB or CMYK black.

Bulk Purchase Discount*

We recommend printing a proof copy to review before printing a larger, bulk order.

  • Orders of 20 or more copies will receive a 10% discount on printing costs.
  • Orders of 50 or more copies will receive a 20% discount on printing costs.
  • Orders of 100 or more copies will receive a 25% discount on printing costs.
  • Please submit files for bulk orders at least one week before the books are needed.**

* No discount will be given on set-up or design service fees.
** If you would like to use specialty paper (gloss, satin, or cream) for bulk orders, please give one month's advance notice to ensure enough stock is available for your order.

Additional Options

Cover Design, Book Formatting, File Conversion, and Consultation Services

Receive a comprehensive cover design to fit your content and receive assistance with publishing-related tasks such as formatting the layout of your book or converting file types.

  • Forty dollars per hour, billed in quarter-hour increments.
  • Patrons must provide photos, illustrations, and copy (such as book blurb, author biography, or reviewer quotes).
  • If desired, patrons may provide an ISBN. ISBNs are available, at cost, from Bowker Identifier Services. The Libraries do not assign ISBNs to books, but we can provide a barcode once an ISBN is provided.
  • Staff will create the cover design.
  • Only available as time permits, at the discretion of publishing services staff and limited to a maximum of eight hours.
  • Design availability for university accounts is limited to one hour if needed for minor file revisions prior to printing.

Interior Paper Options

Different paper types are available:

  • Standard white paper: no additional charge
  • Cream-colored paper: additional $0.01 per page
  • Satin (smooth semi-gloss) paper: additional $0.01 per page
  • Glossy photo stock: additional $0.03 per page
  • Patrons may provide their own 8.5 x 11" paper, subject to a binding test.

Cover Paper Options

Gloss, satin (smooth semi-gloss), and matte cover stocks are available. There is no difference in price.