The Wireless Library: An Assessment of a Library Laptop Program

Abstract

Approximately five years ago, the library at Emporia State University started a laptop checkout program to provide laptops for students and faculty members to checkout and use while they are in the library. The program has been highly successful with students often waiting in line to be able to check out a laptop. In 2009, the library purchased eight Netbooks to see how they would be received by the individuals using the laptop checkout program. With the beginning of the Fall 2010 semester, some modifications were made to the laptop checkout program including reducing the fines for late returns and extending the checkout period. Because the program has been in place for some time, the librarians at the Emporia State University Libraries would like to assess the program by surveying the individuals that check out laptops from the library. In this article, the authors will explore laptop programs in a variety of library settings, present details on the ESU Libraries Laptop Checkout program, discuss the survey results, present what the library faculty and staff have learned, and potential future modifications to the program. Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Akers, Emporia State University This article is available in Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings: http://newprairiepress.org/culsproceedings/vol1/iss1/5 CULS Proceedings, Volume 1, 2011 32 Volume 1, 2011 Originate, Create, Renovate, and Innovate: Leading Revolution in the Academic Library The Wireless Library: An Assessment of a Library Laptop Program Arthur Gutierrez, Jr. Emporia State University Emporia, Kansas Terri Pedersen Summey Emporia State University Emporia, Kansas