Laptop Loans
A limited number of laptop (notebook) computers are available at each metropolitan campus
Library for loan to students.
The laptops are supplied by the UniSA ISTS group, with loans managed by the Library.
Each borrower must sign the Laptop Borrowers Agreement form (PDF 82kb, opens in new window)
- Bookings
- Who may borrow a laptop?
- How long may I have a laptop for?
- Pickup time
- Return Time
- Are there penalty provisions?
- Can I renew or recall my laptop loan?
- When can I make another booking?
- Can I place a short loan request (laptop booking) for a laptop already on loan?
- Bookings are specific
- What software is on the laptop?
- What is lent with the laptop?
- UniSA Wireless Network - Frequently Asked Questions
- Feedback
Bookings
Laptops will only be issued from the Library Service Desk if you have a previously placed booking. Make a booking via the Online Booking System. Select the campus, day and date, laptop number, the start time, and duration (up to 4 hours or for overnight/weekend loan).
Who may borrow a laptop?
UniSA undergraduate and postgraduate students and student affiliates are eligible for this service. Each borrower must sign the Laptop Borrowers Agreement form (PDF 82kb, opens in new window) and take responsibility for the safe and careful usage, physical security and timely return of the laptop. Borrowers who are suspended will not have laptops issued to them.
UniSA staff are able to borrow laptops through Campus Central’s Information and guidelines for use of new Notebooks/Data Projectors
How long may I have a laptop for?
The booking system will allow requests for:
- one booking a day
- for one of the laptops
- for either 4 hour, overnight or weekend loan
- no more than 7 days ahead
some examples
- book for 4 hours from 9am on a weekday, return it before 1pm
- book for 2 hours from 2pm on a weekday, return it before 4pm
- book for 4 hours from 3.30pm any week day, return it before 7.30pm
- book (overnight) from 5pm on a mid-weekday, return it before 9am the next day
- book (overnight) from 4pm on a Saturday, return it at 1pm on Sunday
- book (weekend) from 5pm Friday and return it before 9am Monday (or 9am of the next library opening day if Monday is a holiday)
Note the ability to borrow overnight from the 5pm booking slot. Week day booking slots are in half hour increments.
You cannot change your mind to extend the length of loan when you
pick up the laptop.
Pickup time
Bookings are designed to start from the exact half hour. If the loan transaction is not completed by 15 minutes past the
booked time, the
booking will lapse and you may not be able to borrow the laptop.
In some circumstances you may be able to pick up the laptop, if available,
no earlier than half an hour before your booking. This availability cannot
be guaranteed as any bonus time depends on the previous borrower, and library
staff having time to complete return procedures.
Some examples
- book for a 4 hour loan from 9am on a weekday, pickup after 8.30am
- laptop returned from 4 hour loan over 2 hours early, but next pickup is still no earlier than 30 minutes before its original booking start time. (A 1 hour booking might be inserted by another person between the return and the next booking.)
Return Time
You MUST return the laptop in person to a staff member at the issuing campus Library Service Desk at least 10 minutes before your due end time, in order for library staff to carry out the check procedures, which include a reboot. You will need to stay at the desk while this occurs. Your loan will not be cleared from your library record until the check is complete, and you will receive a receipt. Please allow sufficient time for this to occur. The check procedure takes at least three minutes and will be carried out after each loan. It ensures that the laptop you borrow is in good order.
Are there penalty provisions?
Yes, demerit points accrue at the rate of 0.5 points
per minute late. If there are parts missing or faulty, you will be
charged for replacement.
The Borrower Agreement form specifies the replacement cost of the components.
Can I renew or recall my laptop loan?
No renewals are allowed. You can only borrow one laptop for each day.
When can I make another booking?
You may only place one booking for each day but you may make multiple
bookings at a time.
You need to delete a previously made booking on a day in order to make another
or to amend the details.
Can I make a laptop booking for a laptop already on loan?
Yes, bookings operate separately. The system will offer you the time slots still available for booking the selected laptop on the selected date.
Bookings are specific
Library staff are not authorised to make exceptions to the loans registered in the booking system, as that may disrupt the ability of other patrons to make bookings.
Staff may not substitute one laptop for another - the bookings are specific to one particular machine in each instance.
What software is on the laptop?
The laptops have wireless networking capabilities which enables connection to the University network while on campus. Installed software provides core functionality only and consists of the following applications
- Microsoft Windows XP Pro
- Adobe Acrobat Reader -8.x
- Cyberlink Power DVD
- Adobe Flash Player - 9
- Microsoft Access - 2007
- Microsoft East Asian Language Support
- Microsoft Excel - 2007
- Microsoft Frontpage - 2003
- Microsoft Internet Explorer - 7
- Microsoft Office Professional - 2007
- Microsoft Outlook - 2007
- Microsoft PowerPoint - 2007
- Microsoft Publisher - 2007
- Microsoft Word - 2007
- Roxio CD Creator
- Symantec AntiVirus - 9.x
- Wireless software connection software
A normal reboot of the laptop will clear all added files in the same way as the machines in the computer pools. Please ensure you copy your work to CD-ROM, USB flash drive or Floppy Disk, or email it to yourself before returning the laptop to the Library. We suggest you store your files in the My Documents directory.
What is lent with the laptop?
Laptop carry bag and strap, instruction sheets, power pack and cable, USB optical mouse and USB floppy disk drive.
Feedback
The Library and ISTS welcome your comments on the operation of this service.