Grand Valley State University’s Information Technology Service at the University Libraries has recently called attention to their limited supply of loaner laptops. The University’s IT Service encourages students to understand their technology loan policies in an effort to prevent further potential shortages of available laptops.
There are two types of laptop services that are available from IT for student use– short-term and long-term loans. These loans help students who do not have access to laptops for both short and long periods of time.
“Short-term loaner laptops can be loaned out for a max of four hours from the Mary Idema Pew Library’s IT Service desk,” said McLaughlin-Gorski, the IT Service manager at GVSU. “You will need to provide your student ID to complete the transaction.”
McLaughlin-Gorski also mentioned that students on the Pew Campus can also make the same request at the Steelcase Library. This is the easiest and quickest method to obtain a laptop from the University. However, students who are looking to complete a long-term project or are waiting for their personal device to be repaired may want to consider a long-term laptop loan, which would entitle the student to an extended usage period.
The process to obtain a long-term laptop loan is a bit more complicated, as the request has to be approved by the University’s Replenish Basic Needs Center. Typically, these are laptops that are loaned out for two weeks, but must be requested in advance. Students cannot walk up to an IT Service desk and request laptops in the same manner as short-term loans. Specific instructions and regulations on the long-term loan program can be found on Replenish’s website.
“I have had a student walk up to the IT Service desk and request a long-term laptop,” McLaughlin-Gorski said. “I had to explain to the student that (at) that moment, I could (only) offer them a short-term loaner laptop for 4 hours.”
McLaughlin-Gorski added that once a student’s request is approved by Replenish for an agreed upon loan time, the University’s IT Service will fulfill the request. Students are then able to pick up their laptop from the IT Service once they’ve been contacted through email.
Since loaner laptops are a highly sought-after item, especially for students in a pinch, it is important to realize which times of the year are the busiest at the library. McLaughlin-Gorski wants students to know the library often faces high demand for loaner laptops during exam week and midterms, and encourages students to plan accordingly. In a true pinch, she recommends exploring other on-campus options for computer equipment.
“(While) you could wait until one (a laptop) becomes available, the best option is to use the numerous desktops across campus that are available,” McLaughlin-Gorski said.
McLaughlin-Gorski encourages students to take advantage of the University’s loaner laptops, permitting supply. However, she continues to caution students regarding the short supply of such technology on hand in the hopes of avoiding further shortages.
