Expensive Copies

I am working on my notebook project for a class and have many pages to print out for it. The printer that I have goes through ink like crazy, so I figured I would go to the library to print out the colored pages and just print the white ones out at home. I lug all my stuff to the library and sit down at a computer. I bring a few bucks thinking copies were about 10 cents each. I looked a the printer and it says "50 cents for colored copies!" are you serious? ONE page costs 50 cents!? I can buy a whole stack of paper for 3.99. I packed up my stuff and left. How is everything so darn expensive anymore!?