07/19/2026
I hate making posts like this because I work very hard to run my 3 business alone. I do this to serve my community. But I really need to put some things in perspective here.
I don’t run a free or low cost service. I have fair prices and as you will see in this post, my prices are LOWER than big franchises. And I really don’t make much (pennies actually) in printing after toner, paper and time, but I continue to offer these services for convenience of folks of our community to save them a drive to Dubuque or other places.
What you see in the photo below are current prices. My single side color copies are .45 each and double sided is just a dime more at .55.
Folks, I say this in the most constructive way, if you don’t want to pay my prices, please do not scream at me on the phone or in person and ask FOR EACH? The answer is yes it is.
Yes, the library has printing that is self serve. I do not have self serve. The library can set their prices any way they like. They have public funding from Friends of the Maquoketa Library and that is great, really. I do not have funds to cover my expenses when people stop coming in and go online or wherever.
Again, I feel I shouldn’t have to defend my business. But yesterday there was a post asking what the community wanted for stores and services etc. Quite honestly many things that were listed were things I have offered for 6 years. And many others attempted to offer but had to close without local support.
I encourage folks to think about what we have going on here in this town and the people that make it happen. If you don’t support them, they will be gone.
You know like in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy says the next time I go searching for my own heart’s desire, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. There’s no place like home.
Please be kind and supportive to everyone and especially the people who are small business owners who are struggling and continue to and ask, how much longer can I do this? I do not speak for only myself.
Please shop in your own “backyard”. The alternative will be things like data centers in your backyard that you are fighting so hard to keep out. But we small business owners have no one fighting to keep us here. Please consider this. Thank you. I am doing my best. So are so many others.
Ps- please stop spreading rumors that I have gone out of business. Those who are saying that have never been here. If you have, you would know of the things we are planning and implementing. What purpose does making statements like that do? It’s been going around for years!!! So much that people have asked when my going out of business sale is going to happen.
