Dear LIS-Linkers,
Summary for the list, not scientific at all.
Institutions: Mostly HE, with about a 1/4 FE and 1 school.
Numbers of Laptops lend: Between 15-100
What do you use to store the laptops in?
Either a laptop trolley (with charging ie:
http://www.lapsafe.com/products/mobile-charging/unocart) some other kind
of locker, or something a little more fancy
http://www.lapsafe.com/products/fixed-charging/diplomat
Self-issue or only via staff in staffed hours?
25% vs 75%
Do you lend out the chargers as well?
Mostly no, as the battery life would then determine the length of the
loan period and keep the laptops in the library.
Are they well used? Do they get much damage?
Well used by everyone who replied. Some had a bit of trouble with some
lost keyboard keys, and they had one smashed screen, but it was mostly
wear and tear. There looks like there had been several technical issues
but that seems to really depend on your IT systems. Battery life is a
huge issue. After heavy usage, and being on charge all the time, several
people mentioned that batteries only last 2-3 years.
Do you lend for outside library use, or just in the library?
Mostly library use only, a couple of places kept library cards to
enforce this. A few lent to outside the library, but this seemed to be
mostly for visiting staff to a University, or to students of FE colleges
who didn't have access to computers at home.
Overwhelmingly those that replied did so positivity, there were a few
niggles mostly about IT, and some people did appear to fine it a lot of
work and a little fiddly. Someone raised the point about security and
how the batteries make the RFID tags not work. Some library's impose big
fines for lack of return of laptops, and I think one had gone missing.
These issues were mentioned more by those who allowed them to be taken
out of the library (the bigger issue seemed to be the laptop wearing out
rather than it being stolen). It is an issue but as I didn't ask
directly about this I obviously didn't get a lot of feedback.
Many thanks for your help.
Emma
--
Emma Etteridge
Information Service Librarian
Department of Engineering
University of Cambridge
Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1PZ
Library: 01223 332626 / [log in to unmask]
Library website: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/library
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