Document Services has merged with the Auxiliary & Business Services Marketing Office to offer expanded services to the University community. The newly formed organization, the Penn State Multimedia & Print Center, operates out of Hostetter Business Services Building, which is located next to the Housing and Food Services Building on Services Road.
The Multimedia & Print Center offers its customers print, design and project coordination expertise along with the latest advances in printing and mailing technology. "We've always had these functions, but they've never been together (in one unit). Now it's a one-stop shop," said Abbas Badani, director of the Multimedia & Print Center.
Badani emphasizes that the Multimedia & Print Center will consistently offer customers the best value for their money, and will work with them to find cost-effective solutions that meet their specific needs. "All these changes are meant to help the University and our customers," he said. "We hope to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and provide more value and services."
"Document Services has offered graphic design along with their long-standing print and mailing services since the late 1980s," said Jeff Hermann, University editor and director of University Publications. "With the addition of the designers from Auxiliary and Business Services Marketing Office, the design service will be expanded. However, units are reminded that University Publications is still the office they should contact for any publications or graphic design initiatives to their external audiences." Hermann added, "We have always worked cooperatively with Document Services, and will continue to refer work to the new Multimedia and Print Center as appropriate."
Many people in the University community have used Document Services for printing, mailing and addressing services. While these services are also offered at the Multimedia & Print Center, many new services have been added. For instance, the Multimedia & Print Center can design and develop Web sites, and customers soon will be able to order Penn State stationery (including business cards, letterhead and memo pads) online. The Multimedia & Print Center will continue to add new services and products in the future. "This unit should be a trailblazer," Badani said. "We want to be on the leading edge. Once it's standard and everyone does it, we should be going on to the next big thing." Staff members currently are researching software applications and equipment that will enable the Multimedia & Print Center to benefit from recent advances in the one-to-one personalization field.
More information on the products and services offered at the Multimedia & Print Center is available at http://www.multimediaprint.psu.edu on the Web. Over the next several weeks, many new features will be added to the site, along with details on free tours and educational opportunities for customers. Customers also will be able to request estimates online.