I don't know how thick your book is (how much you have to print)...
I just finished printing
3 journals, full color, every page
4 activity books, 80% black and white, rest full page color
Plus just the various printing we do in our house.
My printer just now started blinking that it needs new ink.. which means I can get a handful more things printed (iron on transfers!)
So. it might take less ink thank you think.
As for binding. I spend $60 and bought a binding machine from staples.com (through Sunshine Rewards, of course). The binding coils costs $5 for 25 of the 1/2 inch size. I laminated the front and back covers, to add bulk, and the middle pages were printed on cardstock for the journals, and heavyweight for the activity books.
So.. it wasn't free, by any means, but I figure it will pay for itself VERY quickly. If you live anywhere near me, I'd be happy to bind them for you.
Here's what the look like, done at home:
edited to add:
You might also try going on another day, talking do a different employee. Maybe a mom.
Kinko's does binding. I bet other copy centers do as well. Just explain it is for your kids, you will NEVER sell it (you promise!)