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Laptops in the Library
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Laptops in Libraries - the experience of others
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links to other libraries that checkout laptops
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List of questions to be answered prior to, and during, the implementation process.
Security:
- tattle tape
- tampler evident security labels http://www.imprints.com/securitypage.htm
- Good idea, might be more aesthic than the painting idea, or would we do both? (Todd)
- More information about security seals? - UO http://libweb.uoregon.edu/commons/laptops/fines.html (You may be charged if you tamper with the security seals on the laptop). Check seals as part of the checkin procedure? (linda)
- uglify them - paint with BIG "Property of LCC" on covers
- Plus purchase features like Computrace and note that on the case as well. AV services uses a tool to etch the plastic as well. (Todd)
- Caveo (Fellowes and others) provide options such as a PCMCIA card that detect movement of the laptop outside a specified range/area and can sound an alarm and/or disable the laptop until a code is entered. (Barb)
checkout/checkin procedures discussion:
- Maybe a dedicate computer for checkout/checkin/questions at circ counter for laptop checkout - #3 if laptop cabinet is located where the free standing desk is located ? (linda)
- Battery charging part of the checkin procedure ? (linda)
- Last checkout ? 1 hour before closing?(linda)
- 1 hour before last due time(Raymond)
- 1 hour before closing seems appropriate (Barb)
- Returned how long before closing ? 1 hour, 1/2 hour?(linda)
- 1/2 hour before closing(Raymond)
- 1/2 hour before closing (Barb)
- use agreement? (linda)
- Can be built into the "login" screen, where they have to click through to use the laptop, but signed/written may be better if there is major damage or a theft? (todd)
- Perhaps a signature could be gotten the first time then just confirmed at each checkout after that? (Barb)
- what covers us best for money collection? Nadine might have the best input here (linda)
- ID requirements? (linda)
- Government issued photo id should be a minimum? (todd)
- Would LCC bus pass work? They are one of our most common ids(Raymond)
- Available to staff & faculty? (linda)
- Staff are optional from my perspective as they do have an option of requesting one from AV Services. Since these are being purchased with student tech fee funds, it seems like students should at least have priority, plus staff probably won't be as interested if usage is limited to in-library only. (todd)
loan rules
- Check out time limit
- 2 hr (linda)
- 2 - 4 seems right (todd)
- 2 hours (Raymond)
- I would only limit time if it seems to be abused or if we run short on available laptops. I'm not sure if this would be an issue or not, but if so then 2 to 4 hours seems right (Barb)
- Library use only Yes or No?
- yes (linda)
- yes (todd)
- yes (Raymond)
- yes (Barb)
- Renewals
- yes, if available (linda)
- Reservations or first come, first serve?
- first come first served (Nadine)
- first come first served (Barb)
overdue and billing amounts
- How much?
Hardware
- PC
- Macintosh?
- See if HEA201 can add Mac's instead of buying them for the library (Nadine)
- The new Apple laptops run both Mac and Windows operating systems BUT this will increase the number of possible support questions. To start maybe we should focus on one operating system to ease support burden. (todd)
- Suggest purchase a just a couple (3 or 4) Macs in the mix for those students taking classes in the center building who need to do some quick work, based on the idea that Armando does have some expertise with Macintosh computers and is close by to help with support? (Barb)
- DVD
- CD
- CD burner?
- DVD burner?
- I'm ok with CD/DVD player/CD burner but DVD *burner* seems to be overkill to me with no real need, even CD burner may not be necessary (todd)
- CD/DVD player seems appropriate (Barb)
- Enabled microphones to create podcasts, record notes etc. ?
- Built-in microphones on laptops are possible, but could lead to lots of noise if being used in the library? (todd)
- extra batteries - 2 or 3 per laptop
- It would be fairly expensive to buy 2-3 per laptop, plus could be "lost" fairly easily if checked out with the laptop. I think an exchange program at the circ desk would be safer and not that hard to administer? If checkout time is 2-4 hours, most laptop batteries will last that long, assuming they were fully charged at checkout time (todd)
- Will one battery run 12 hours on one charge? How long does it take for a battery to be recharged? There are very few electrical outlets in the library so most will be running off a battery. Other libraries have suggested extra batteries because of problems they experienced.
- (todd) Normal battery life is 4 hours, give or take an hour depending on usage. My suggestion is that we buy an extra battery per laptop, issue one fully charged battery at checkout time, while the laptop is checked out the 2nd battery is being charged. When the laptop comes back in, the batteries are swapped so a fully charged battery is always sent out. Mainly, I was trying to avoid sending out more than one battery at a time as they will get "lost". (They new batteries are easy to check for "fullness" as they have lights that indicate the charge.
- One spare battery per laptop seems to make good sense to me (Barb)
- Nadine has asked about scanning locations in the library in the past. Is there a concensus that setting up a publicly accessible scanner, for laptop users to use in the library, is it a viable idea considering the tech. support options that will be available in the fall? Could this be a phase II once we assess the tech support questions from the initial rollout? (todd)
software to be installed
- Browsers: Firefox and IE
- Word processing/business application software
- Photo editing software?
- Itunes?
- ILife? (if macintosh)
- FTP??
- HTML Editor - Frontpage, Dreamweaver, etc
- I'd be surprised if many students actually need this level of HTML editing, a lot of it is done online (like this wiki tool), but we do currently install Dreamweaver in the labs. If needed we could probably find a low-cost alternative to Dreamweaver/Frontpage. (todd)
tech support
- Yes - contracted tech and student worker? (linda)
- Primary point person for check in/out laptops with circ staff acting as backup. Tech support can back up circ when needed. (linda)
- I'm not sure I follow this. The checkin/out process may not need tech support in a lot of cases. IT can only give 4 hours per day of contracted tech support and I'm not sure that we can trust student workers to be primary point person either. Could it be reversed where the circ staff is primary for checkin/out? (todd)
- many of the people what the circulation desk are work-study students. There are 4 part time and full time circulation employees. From morning until 3:00pm usually there is only one employee working the desk because they are working on backoffice tasks. So during the 4 hours when there is tech support I'm suggesting that they checkout/in laptops.
- Thanks that makes sense and is what I was thinking also. There may be times when the tech support person is away from the desk troubleshooting printing or helping in the computer classroom for example, but the circ. desk would be there as a backup or the student would have to wait until they return? (todd)
- Charge batteries at checkin (linda)
- Answer user questions including software questions IE "how do I format this document? "how do I put a function in Excel?" (linda)
- Location: Maybe a dedicate computer for checkout/checkin/questions at circ counter for laptop checkout - #3 if laptop cabinet is located where the free standing desk is located ? (linda)
printing
- Same policy as desktop public computers? (linda)
- Barbara and I have been told that we may not receive funding for a new system to build a college-wide system to charge for printing this year. We may need to look at some sort of charge card system like the one mentioned at the OU library website, (or coin operated?). This might work for the laptops and SSAN but I'm guessing that it may not be the library's preferred option from the public computers? (todd) UPDATE: I spoke to Gary Anderson about the charge card system yesterday and he informed me that he is feeling like the current card based system for copying should be removed due to low usage. This changes my perspective on this somewhat. He was going to ask IKON rep. about alternatives (todd)
- Student laptops - SSAN - should also print (linda)
- laptops without printing comments
- linda - no, I don't think we should have laptops if they can't print
- todd- agree, laptops will need printing capacity somewhere in the library
implications for current library workstation configuration
- Should public computers have the same software? discussion:
- no, unless we had more than the planned 16 hours of support. We should be staffed as a lab with instuctional support people and dedicated student workers at all open library hours. I do not think any open lab have more than 80 computers to support (public desktop computers = 50 + 30 laptops) and they are staffed to answer computer questions. (linda)
department responsible for replacement costs, etc.
- Lost and replacement funds (ICP) (linda)
- Would late fees be used for this purpose? (todd)
- Technolgy Fee - normal wear and tear (linda)
Group members
- Linda
- Raymond
- Terria
- Jen
- Todd
Meetings
| Who | When I can meet |
| Linda | |
| Raymond | |
| Terria | |
| Jen | |
| Todd | All summer, except for week of June 25th and week of Aug 23rd. |
Synopsis of local library laptop policies/information
| PCC | MHCC | UO | OSU | Western Oregon | |
| Number |
10 Sylvania 7 RockCreek 7 Cascade |
16 | 40+ laptops | 25 | |
| Checkout | 2 hrs | 2 hrs | 4 hrs (1 per week) | 3 hrs | 4 hrs |
| LIB USE ONLY | yes | yes | no | yes | |
| Renewals | yes (if available) | no | no (reservable) | yes (if available) | yes (if available) (reservable) |
| Printing | .05 (1.00 color) | free | .08 (.50 color) | ? | |
| Late fee | $5 hr | $1 first 4 hr, $2 after | $20 hr | $5 first 30 min., $10 each additional hour, $200 maximum | $5 hr/$50 max |
| Lost/damaged | $2300+/cost of repairs | $1500+ | replacement + | $2000 + | $1500+/cost of repairs |
| Software |
Office 2003 w/Front Page FireFox IE Itunes CDRW/DVD |
Windows XP MS Office |
All: Office IE SSH Telnet & FTP clients PC: Media player Mac: ILife Appleworks |
windows XP firefox office 2003, soon to be office 2007. |
Chime DirectX Works Windows Media Player |
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