News and Events

By John Wiggins, Director of Library Services & Quality Improvement

The Libraries will begin an exciting new pilot during fall term, offering laptop lending to students 24 hours a day via a lending kiosk in W. W. Hagerty Library’s Bookmark Café. This new kiosk will provide convenience and security to students who do not wish to travel late at night with their personal computers.

This new pilot is a direct result of feedback from individual students and student government organizations regarding interest in using laptops during times when a library is closed for services but overnight spaces are open.

To investigate interest and use, the Libraries will be launching a 12-laptop kiosk in W. W. Hagerty Library’s Bookmark Café.  This kiosk will be available during all hours—when Hagerty is staffed and also when only the Bookmark Café space is available.  To borrow a laptop, a student will need a University ID, Drexel network access, and to agree to the terms of borrowing presented on the screen.

There will be a few differences between borrowing a laptop from staff at a service desk and borrowing from the kiosk.  A kiosk laptop will not come with a power cord.  Kiosk laptops, however, may be borrowed for about the expected length of battery, which we anticipate to run about 5 hours based on normal use.  Laptops may only be used within the Libraries.

Once launched, we will be eager for your feedback!