Next Monday, St. John’s University will take the next step when it comesto higher technology and better resources.
The library, in conjunction with Information Technology (IT), will makeeight laptops available to be checked out for seven days at a time byany current St. John’s University student, staff or administrativefaculty who has an ID card.
“The university, through the office of Information Technology, is makingavailable eight laptops that will be circulated through the reserveroom,” said Teresa Edwards, associate dean of Systems. IT asked thelibrary to assist with this program because it has the ability tocirculate the laptops through the reserve room.
“The office of Information Technology wanted to make them [the laptops]available and they asked the library to cooperate with them in makingthis possible because we already have the mechanisms set up,” Edwardssaid.
Signing out a laptop will not be as easy as checking out a book.Students will have to sign a special form to ensure that laptops aren?tdamaged.
“Everyone will be asked to sign a responsibility agreement acceptingresponsibility for replacements,” Edwards said.
“If the student decides to take out a laptop and signs a contract, thenthey should be familiar with the risk,” said Yahaira Quiros, a sophomore.
In signing the agreement, students are expected to pay late charges forthe individual parts (the laptop, case and adapter) as well as chargesfor lost items. Late charges range from $10 the first day to the costof the item after seven days. Students will have to pay the cost of anylost or stolen items. The laptop, case and adapter together are worth$2,600.
Laptop borrowers are also expected to follow the Computer and NetworkPolicy that can be found on pages 112 through 117 of the 2000-2001student handbook. These pages deal with prohibited uses and sanctionsfor unacceptable use of computer resources.
Once the laptops are returned, their condition will be checked to makesure that everything is in proper working order for the next user.”The success of this is really going to depend on people’s care ofthem,” said Edwards.
The laptops, which were purchased last year, are all IBM ThinkPadsequipped with Windows ’98, Office 2000 and a CD/DVD-ROM.
The program will enable students who need to work on schoolwork but whocannot get time in the library and an opportunity to get the workdone.
“There may be times when they [students] can’t get to thelibrary and spend the time here and they don’t have a computer at home,”said Edwards.
“I do believe that it’s a good idea because some students may not haveaccess to a computer,” said freshman Jearon D’Anglade.
“It seems likea good idea,” said Quiros. “A lot of people don?t have computer accessat home.”
To better enable students to use the laptops, the library has a QuickStart Users Guide to assist with the basics of the IBM ThinkPads andwill also be scheduling two tutorials. These sessions will last halfan hour and will cover how to turn on the laptop and hook it up. Signswill be posted throughout the library.
Edwards is optimistic about this program.
“Success to me is that firstof all we’re giving the students, and faculty and administrative staffsomething that they need to help them at some point in their learning,”Edwards said. “I’m counting on everybody to know that this is a reallywonderful thing.”
“I think they [students] should take advantage of it,” Quiros said.