[OPLINLIST] Laptop lending policies

[Chris Kincaid]

Linux allows you to set up guest sessions that do not save any information and reverts it to its template upon logout. You can use another profile as its template. This keeps staff from needing to do more than restart the machine after each in-library use. The template and the Linux Admin need strong passwords! See http://dashohoxha.fs.al/linux-guest-account/ for steps on how to set this up. Note: it only works with lightdm window manager.

If you are using a Chromebook that's tethered to a hotspot, you should be able to lock the Chromebook remotely after a certain checkout period as long as it is connected to the Internet. Unfortunately, it's easy enough to reimage the device if the patron knows their stuff. I've had hotspots even return with strange software flashed on them!

I hope this helps,


Chris Kincaid
Assistant Director
Newcomerstown Public Library

740.498.8228
ckincaid at nctlib.org

________________________________
From: OPLINLIST <oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org> on behalf of Penny Neubauer via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>
Sent: Monday, December 6, 2021 12:58 PM
To: Suzanne Weber <sweber at lakewoodpubliclibrary.org>
Cc: seo-circ at lists.oplin.org <seo-circ at lists.oplin.org>; oplinlist at lists.oplin.org <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>; seo-members at lists.oplin.org <seo-members at lists.oplin.org>
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] Laptop lending policies

This is something we have considered on numerous occasions. Our biggest concern is, what incentive is there to return them?  We can't get folks to return hotspots -- how in the world would we get them to return something like a laptop or chrome book? What am I missing?
Penny

Penny Neubauer | Director
Ashtabula County District Library
4335 Park Ave, Ashtabula, OH 44004
440.990.2322 (office)
www.acdl.info<http://www.acdl.info>
Ashtabula Branch 440.997.9341 | Geneva Branch 440.466.4521
Gather, Read, Discover, Transform

ACDL: Creating Community, Changing Lives!


On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 12:50 PM Suzanne Weber via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>> wrote:
Hi Heather!
It's great that you got funding for this.
We've been loaning out Chromebooks for over a year now.

We have 12 total that patrons can check out and use in the library.
At this point there is no limit on how long they can have it checked out for.
We average about 400 checkouts per month.
Once the Chromebook is returned, a staff member sanitizes it and then does a "powerwash" to reset it back to factory settings so that no personal information is kept from the previous user.

I hope this helps!
Suzanne

I hope this helps.



On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 9:00 AM Heather Patten via OPLINLIST <oplinlist at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplinlist at lists.oplin.org>> wrote:
Good morning,
Our library received funding through the ECF to provide laptop lending. If you provide this program, please share your policies and procedures. Any advice or guidance (tips or problems you have encountered with laptop lending) would be greatly appreciated.

--
Best Regards

Heather Patten, Assistant Director
Brown County Public Library
Mt. Orab Library-Manager
613 S. High St.
Mt. Orab, OH
45154
937-444-1414

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--
Suzanne Weber
Manager, Public Services
Lakewood Public Library
15425 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
(216) 226-8275,  ext. 117

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