Not just what you paid when you bought it, but including your class notes, the draft of your thesis, the data for your research project?

We’re sorry to report that there have been two laptop thefts from Hahnemann Library in recent weeks. PLEASE do not leave your laptop or other valuables (phone, iPod, wallet, etc.) unattended, even for “just a minute” — it only takes a second for a thief to stuff your laptop in a bag and walk away. If you absolutely must leave your belongings, please make sure that a friend is actively watching them until you return.

Replacing a laptop on a student budget is tough; replacing hours or months of work on a student schedule could be even harder!

Suggestion submitted, 7/5/2011:

Please keep the downstairs open past 5:30! There’s no room upstairs to spread out!! (unless you own a laptop, which I dont)

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by our temporary changes, which include closing the 1st floor at 6, and closing the 24-hour area off from the library earlier (see previous blog post).

Due to delays in distribution of work study awards, there are no students available to work in the library; our evening and weekend librarians are working solo in order to keep the library open. For better security when there is only one person to supervise the library, we’ve decided to close the 1st floor when the staff who work in that area leave.

If you don’t find the computer area on the 2nd floor satisfactory for your study needs, please consider checking out a laptop from the circulation desk — we have both Windows laptops and MacBooks that can be borrowed for 3 hours at a time.  Any study rooms that aren’t booked can be used for individual study — plenty of privacy and table space to spread out your work!

As we move towards the end of the term, and the holiday season, it’s easy to be distracted and to leave personal belongings vulnerable to theft. Valuables left unattended in the library, even “just for a minute”, can easily disappear. Even if you’re just making a copy, or running to the restroom, take your belongings with you, or ask a trusted friend to watch them. Please do NOT risk the inconvenience and financial hardship that can ensue when a wallet, laptop, or phone is stolen.

We’ve just added 5 new Mac Books to the selection of laptops available for loan at the Hahnemann Circulation Desk (2nd floor). Fill out a laptop borrowing agreement to use a Mac Book or PC laptop; you can borrow a laptop for 3 hours at a time, and it must be used in the Hahnemann Library.