Overview

Los Angeles Harbor College students, staff, and faculty in good standing may borrow laptops from the Baxter Library Circulation Desk for use in the Library.

Laptops are circulated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Laptops may not be reserved in advance.

Laptops must be checked out in person, and the borrower's current student ID card or other valid photo ID is required. A borrower is required to leave his/her ID card at the Circulation Desk when checking out a laptop. The laptop will be checked out to the borrower’s Library account.

A laptop borrower agreement must be signed each time a laptop is checked out, and the laptop must be signed in upon its return.

No food or drink is allowed when using a laptop.

Current District and College policies as they relate to inappropriate use and abuse of computer technology apply.

Required

Current valid ID is required. No one will be allowed to borrow a laptop without his/her current ID.

Loan Enforcement

Laptop checkout is a privilege. The Baxter Library reserves the right to deny checkout privileges indefinitely based on past abuses. Patrons who have overdue books or fines are ineligible to use this service.

The laptop is presumed lost if it leaves the Baxter Library building. Borrower is responsible for replacement costs.

Laptop borrower is responsible for

Full replacement cost, plus a $10 non-refundable processing fee, if the laptop, any parts or any peripherals are lost, stolen or otherwise not returned.
Full repair cost, plus a $10 non-refundable processing fee, if the laptop or peripherals are damaged.

Any laptop not returned by the Library's closing time will be considered stolen and the borrower will be liable for full replacement costs.

If any technical problems are encountered, the laptop must be immediately brought to the Circulation Desk.

A patron's privilege to check out a laptop may be removed for one semester if the patron fails to return loaned equipment by the due time on more than two occasions or leaves before the check-in procedure is complete.

Loan Period

The normal loan period is 2 hours. Only one renewal is allowed, providing there are no other people waiting to checkout a laptop computer. Failure to return the laptop on time will result in suspension of future laptop privileges.

Renewals

Laptops may not be renewed if there is an active waiting list. If there is no active waiting list, a laptop may be renewed within 15 minutes of when it is due. In order to renew a laptop, the borrower must:

Come to the Circulation Desk
Once again present a valid ID

If there is a waiting list the borrower must return the laptop. Once the laptop is returned the borrower may add their name to the waiting list. A borrower cannot add their name to the waiting list while they are in possession of a laptop. If during the second loan period a laptop is requested by another person, the current borrower may be asked to return it.

The borrower may check out only one laptop at a time.

Laptops will stop circulating one hour before the closing of the Library. End-of-the-day loans must be returned 30 minutes before closing.

Overdue fines for laptop computers are $5 per hour or any portion thereof.

Where to Use Laptops

Laptops may be used only on the first and second floors and mezzanine level of the Baxter Library. They may not be taken out of the building, or to the Learning Assistance Center.

 Access to the Internet is provided through the wireless network.

Printing is not available from laptops. Patrons may use Library Instruction Lab computers to print.

Audio or video files must be played with a headphone or earphones.

Security

Borrowers must sign an agreement form, accepting responsibility for loss or damage to the laptop computer.  This agreement form is kept on file at the Library.

At the time of checkout, the laptop will be inspected by a circulation staff member (or a student worker) to make sure it is intact and functioning properly. Borrowers must complete and sign a check out / check in form for the laptop with a Library staff member every time a laptop is checked out / in. When returning, the borrower should allow at least five minutes for the Circulation staff member or a student worker to check the equipment. A staff member or a student worker will verify that all parts are present and that the computer and all accessories are in good working order. The laptop will be booted up and checked for functionality upon return. The borrower will sign and date the checklist to complete the transaction. The laptop will then be checked in from the borrower’s library account.

Users are responsible for the laptop and all its components and accessories while on loan and should NEVER leave the laptop unattended or lend it to other people.

The borrower is responsible for the laptop while it is checked out to him/her. Under no circumstances should a borrower leave the laptop unattended. The library will not be responsible for a lost or stolen laptop even when it is used in the library.

(Laptops will be turned on before they are circulated to the borrower. When returned, laptops must still be on to prove their working condition and functional state).

Borrowers may not attempt to modify, tamper with or install new hardware or software. No user files will be retained on the hard disk.  All personal data should be saved to either floppy disks or flash drives.

In case of any accident, damage or harm to the laptop or any of its components or accessories, the user must go to the Circulation Desk immediately and report the incident to the library staff. Replacement cost of a lost or stolen laptop is $1,700 plus any applicable overdue fine. The fee to repair a damaged laptop is the cost of labor and parts plus a $100 service fee.

Disclaimer

Neither the Library nor the College is responsible for any damage to user's secondary storage (CD's, flash drive, floppy disk, etc.) and/or the loss of data that may occur from use of the Library's computers and/or malfunctioning Library hardware/software.

The laptops may not be used for illegal activities including, but not limited to: disruption of other users/services/equipment, harassment, distribution of unsolicited advertising, propagation of computer viruses, and attempts to make unauthorized entries into other computers.

Assistance

For technical questions about starting up or connecting to your account, please see the Reference Librarian. However, the library staff will not provide technical support for computer hardware or software.

The borrower will be fiscally responsible for any damage to a laptop if he/she tries to troubleshoot problems.

Failure to comply with laptop policy and procedures may result in termination of all laptop privileges. Policy and procedures are subject to change without further notice, although the latest version of this policy is available online at this location, and upon request from the Library staff.