[OPLINTECH] Lending/Circulating Laptops for Public Access

Thu Jun 14 13:47:37 EDT 2007

Instead of allowing patrons to take the laptops home, could you just
restrict their usage to anywhere within the library?  That way you would
have a little more control over the equipment, but still be able to provide
public computer access without designating a specific area within the
library.

Chauncey G. Montgomery, MLIS
Director/Clerk-Treasurer
Community Library
44 Burrer Dr
Sunbury, OH 43074
740-965-3901 ext. 102
montgoc1 at oplin.org

-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org]On
Behalf Of JKENZIG
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 1:39 PM
To: Chad Neeper; oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Lending/Circulating Laptops for Public Access

The tablets are WebDT and they were very durable, they had rubber
protection around them. We've only had a few issues with the actual
durability of them, mostly from staff not storing them correctly or
attempting to repair something on them themselves. We have only had one
that the screen got broke on from being knocked off a table.

 If I was going to circulate laptops I would definitely look at
something like the Panasonic Toughbooks which are more expensive but
VERY durable.

I still think you would want to make sure that the system has
appropriate virus protection and even with a product like deepfreeze
there needs to be some sort of schedule or ability to run Windows
Updates on the system not to mention the ability to add desired plugins
the patron might need.  You are basically still managing a full blown PC
and have all the costs and manpower involved with doing so.  Maxspeed
makes a wireless Windows XP embedded laptop that also may be of use.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org]
On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 12:26 PM
To: oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Lending/Circulating Laptops for Public Access

Jim,

How durable did you find the tablets in the hands of the patron? In
general, I would expect shorter than normal hardware lifespans...

-----------------------
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer

Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

--   Full LAN/WAN consulting services   --
-- Specialized in libraries and schools --

JKENZIG wrote:
> Wow,
> I have heard of libraries allowing patrons to have laptops to use
> within their libraries but haven't yet come across one actually
> letting patrons take them home. We have had wireless web tablets at
> several of our branches for a few years left on tables so patrons
> could pick them up and use them around the library. We had a lot of
> issues with these in having to create a space/power for charging them,

> patrons leaving them lying around with inappropriate content left on
> them, and having to come up with a way to reset them to default after
a patron is done with them.
> We have since decided that the web tablets will only have our web
> catalog available.
>
>  At very best you would need to have a product like Deepfreeze by
> Faronics on them that reset the laptop back to your vanilla
> configuration when it was returned. Further you would need to have
> control over all the accessories that go with the laptop to the patron

> as well as a large area for storing and charging the units between
> loans. It can get quite expensive to manage and time consuming for
> staff also having to check them over every return cycle. It is a large

> undertaking.
>
> Jim Kenzig
> Network Manager
> Cuyahoga County Public Library
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org]
> On Behalf Of Maria Wilburn
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 10:40 AM
> To: oplintech at oplin.org
> Subject: [OPLINTECH] Lending/Circulating Laptops for Public Access
>
> We a mid-size rural public library in an old Carnegie Public Library
> Building. We are about to start a remodeling project at our library
> and our Architect in his original presentation mentioned that "a lot
> of libraries are now lending laptops to patrons. These laptops can be
> used anywhere and you don't have to allocate in library space for
> them." This translated in to our board believing that lending laptops
> was a done deal. And that was what we're going to do.
>
> I now have several questions for all of those libraries in Ohio that
> are circulating laptops or have considered doing so.
>
>
> Let me know why decided to lend or decided not to lend laptops?
>
> Can you tell me your success or failure stories? Need pros & cons for
> this subject.
>
> If you are lending: Who are you? Can we come and visit?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> Maria Wilburn-Technology Coordinator
> Carnegie Public Library
> 127 S North St.
> Washington CH, OH 43160
>
> (740) 335-2540 voice
> (740) 335-8409 Fax
> wilburma at oplin.org
>
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