[OPLINTECH] [OPLINLIST] Laptops for patrons to borrow in the library

[Susie Brown]

We use LaptopsAnytime.

We have 6 laptops, and the user guidelines are on the screen of the kiosk. The customer must agree to the user agreement before a laptop is checked out.
The laptops are for use on library premises, only.
Customers authenticate via our ILS. Only adults (18 years+) with library cards in good standing can check out a laptop.
We use CASSIE to manage the time, they are limited to 3 hours. We assume the battery will die by then.
            We receive an overdue return report nightly that lets us know that someone kept the laptop longer than 3 hours – or if it was not returned.
            Customers are not punished for keeping a laptop longer than the 3 hours.
We configure the laptop the same as our public computers with Office, web browsers, DeepFreeze, etc.

We use Absolute to manage the GPS location of the devices. The laptop will stop working once it is out of range. Anyone trying to use the laptop will see a message stating that the laptop is the property of the library, and it must be returned asap. Other than that message, the laptop is a brick once it leaves our geo-location. Between Absolute and the local Police, we have been successful at retrieving the laptops the few times they walked away.

In addition, I have the user information from our ILS. We file a police report as soon as we can, providing the police with the user information (address, phone number, etc.) and all of our asset information (make, model, serial number). We have not had many laptops walk away – most of the time, the user was not aware that they could not take it home and rushed back to return it. Intentional or not, the police usually are able to retrieve the laptop quickly if it is not returned by the user.



Susie Brown
Digital Services Manager
Shaker Heights Public Library
16500 Van Aken Blvd
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
sbrown at shakerlibrary.org
216-367-3014


From: OPLINLIST <oplinlist-bounces at lists.oplin.org> On Behalf Of Eric Place via OPLINLIST
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2025 2:07 PM
To: oplinlist at lists.oplin.org; oplintech at lists.oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] Laptops for patrons to borrow in the library

Hi,

If your library checks out laptops for in-library use, how long do you let the patron borrow it for, 2 or 3 hours?

What is your procedure? Do they have to sign an agreement?

Do you use Scalefusion (https://scalefusion.com/), Deep Freeze (https://www.faronics.com/), Reboot Rx (https://rebootrx.org/), or something similar to track the laptop's location and protect against viruses?

What free software do you have pre-installed or would you recommend?


  *   Adobe Acrobat
  *   Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer)
  *   TypeFaster Typing Tutor
  *   Audacity
  *   GIMP
  *   Google Earth
  *   Magnify, Windows' magnification program
  *   LibreOffice
  *   Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Publisher, etc.)
  *   Windows Media Player

Thank you,
Eric Place, Guiding Ohio Online Trainer

St. Marys Community Public Library
140 South Chestnut St.
Saint Marys, OH  45885
Phone: 419-394-7471
Email: EPlace at seolibraries.org<mailto:Eplace at seolibraries.org>

https://smcpl.org<http://smcpl.org/>

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