The Assessment of a Library Laptop Program
Presented by:
Terri Summey, Head of Access and Children’s Services
Art Gutierrez, Head of Technical Services
Emporia State University Libraries and Archives
Outline:
Introduction to ESU Libraries and
Archives
 Overview of Laptop programs and
assessments
 The Laptop program at ESU
 Current assessment study
 Future thoughts and recommendations
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Emporia State University
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Established 1863 in Emporia Kansas
Midsize university
6500 Students
67% UG / 33% Grad
Approximately 600 international students
Known for Teacher’s College, SLIM,
School of Business
Library Laptop Lending Programs
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Many university libraries have laptop lending
programs – study 79% (Holden and Hsieh, 2007)
“Getting a laptop is as easy as getting a book”
(Jensen, 2008);
Library computing in library – “anytime anywhere”
– technological mobility;
Lending policies vary (time, in house use);
Literature – assessments of use, issues
encountered, development of lending programs
Packages versus peripherals
Programs are popular and successful
Regents Library Laptop Programs
ESU
KSU
KU
WSU
FHSU
x
x
x
x
x
Laptops
Available
40
12
46
10
23
Library Use
Only
x
x
x
Loan Period
3 hours
4 hours
3 hours
Fines
$5/hour
.25/min
up to
$120
Laptop
PITT
Washburn
x
Program
3 days
$5/day up .25/min
to $35
up to $60
na
25
na
X
3 days
na
2 hours
$5/hour
up to $30
na
$20/
hour
Laptop Program @ ESU
2006-Started 5 laptops, 8 access points
 2006 -10 Added 10 laptops per year
 30 laptops, 10 netbooks
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Laptops Used
Latitude D620’s and D630’s ($1200)
 Latitude 2100 netbooks ($650)
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Processor Intel Atom N470
(1.83GHz)
RAM
2.0GB
Hard-Drive 160GB
Video
Integrated Graphics
Screen
Size
10.1”
Battery
6-Cell/54-WHr
Warranty
3 Year – Laptop
3 Year – Battery
Laptop Agreement
Checked out through III system – similar
to reserve items
 Yearly agreement
 Note created in student records in our
ILS
 Replacement Cost
 Late fees
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 $5/hour – recently reduced
Wireless Access
8 access points in 2006
 12 access points
 Issues
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 Wireless standard
 Campus wide growth
 Reliable
 Laptop setup
 Printing
Laptop Issues
Updating – Adobe, MS, Browsers, Other
 Connectivity
 Security
 Warranty
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 Battery -$135
 AC adapter - $65
Number of laptops available
 Financial implications
 Staffing
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Stats
Laptop Circulation Stats
Nov. 07 – Oct. 10
45,000
40,000
38,606
35,000
32,882
30,000
25,000
23,174
Total Check Outs
Total Renewals
20,000
15,000
10,255
10,000
9,601
6,898
5,000
0
Nov. 07-Oct. 08
Nov. 08-Oct. 09
Nov. 09-Oct. 10
Circulation Percentages
Circulation Percentages
Nov. 07-Oct. 08
Circulation Percentages
Nov. 08-Oct. 09
Laptop
Circulation
36%
Other
Materials
Circulation
64%
Other
Materials
Circulation
58%
Circulation Percentages
Nov. 09-Oct. 10
Other
Materials
Circulation
53%
Laptop
Circulation
47%
Laptop
Circulation
42%
Survey of Users
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Goals:
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Who is using the program;
How they are using the program;
Satisfaction with the laptop program;
Satisfaction with Netbooks
Sampling Technique
October 2010
 25-30 questions on Zoomerang
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 Demographic questions
 Laptop program knowledge
 Laptop use
Under 10 minutes
 Emails requesting participation along with word of mouth
and bookmarks at point of checkout
 Prizes for participation
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Results: Demographics
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190 Respondents
Classification distributed
/ all students
Mostly fulltime students
living off campus
80% US Students / 20%
international
80% own wireless
laptop computer
93% aware of library’s
wireless
Classification of Students
Grad Student
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
Freshman
0
10
20
30
40
Number of Respondents
50
Preliminary Results: Laptop Use
Laptop Use and Desktop Use
70
60
50
40
Use of Laptops
Use of 2nd Floor Computers
30
20
10
0
Daily
4-6 times a week
1-3 times a week
less than once a week
Results: Laptop Use
How do you use the library laptops?
Other
To watch a movie or listen to music
Games
Current Events
Social networking
Email
Library research or online research
To complete an assignment
To connect to the Internet (surf the web)
To access Blackboard
0
20
40
60
80
Number of Respondents
100
120
140
Results: Laptop Use
Why do you use the library laptops over the
desktops?
90
Number of Respondents
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
I can take it
anywhere
I can take it
where it is quiet
I like the other
floors in the
library better
than the 2nd
floor
All the PCs are
usually busy
It is more
convenient
Other
Results: Laptop Use
Satisfaction with Service and
Laptops
 Reasons: mobility, quiet, PCs
busy, convenience
 Learned about the program
through friends
 Awareness of policies but not
online renewals
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What do you like about the
Library Laptop Program?
I like that I don't have to lug my personal laptop to the
library. I come to the library to get away from distractions
at home. The laptop allows me to spread out my
assignments/homework on a table and have as much
space as I need, unlike at a computer desk or in the lab.
 Having laptops available makes it easier for group
projects to find a table to sit around to view assignment on
computer, rather than trying to fit around a computer on
the 2nd floor where there is not much room between
computers. It is also nice to be able to move to a quiet
area to concentrate or be able to move from one area to
another without logging off and switching computers
(handy when going from working on hw alone, to meeting
a group, etc)
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How can we make the laptop
program better?
we need more plug-in's there are some
spots in the library that i want to sit at but i
cant because there is no where to connect
the power cord, for example the lobby
 get more updated laptops and get all the
programs from every department on all of
them. for example, the digital audio
recording programs from the music
department and photoshop from the art
department, etc.
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How has the library laptop
program helped you at ESU?
I don't have internet access at home at
the moment, and my personal laptop is
getting repaired, so it gives me the
luxury of both the internet AND not being
confined to a desk/table.
 It has made group projects a lot easier.
 Helped me not to buy a laptop money
was used to buy schoolbooks and
personal items
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If the library did not have laptops
to check out in the library how
would that impact you?
If we didn't have the laptops I don't think
we'd have enough computers for
everyone, especially during mid-terms
and finals.
 It would be a lot harder to get tutoring
with my E.D.G.E program in the library. I
enjoy the library for it's quiet, helpful
resources. I think it would impact me a
lot.
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Future Considerations
Ipad
Keyboard
 Printing
 Security
 Memory
 Ipad3???
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THE END!
Questions???
Comments.
Presented by:

Art Gutierrez
 Head of Technical Services
 Emporia State University
 agutierra@emporia.edu

Terri Summey
 Head of Access and Children’s Services
 Emporia State University
 tsummey@emporia.edu
Sources:
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Holden, H. and Hsieh, M. L. (2007). The state of wireless
laptop lending programs: a survey of academic libraries.
Library HiTech, 25, 260-275.
Hsieh, M. L. and Holden, H. (2008). A university library
laptop lending service: an analysis using two student
surveys. Library HiTech, 26, 424-439.
Jensen, K. (2008). Beyond classroom ‘technology’: The
equipment circulation program at Rasmusen Library
University of Alaska Fairbanks. Journal of Access
Services, 5, 221-231.
Power, J. L. (2007) . Circulation on the go: Implementing
wireless laptop circulation in a state university academic
library. Journal of Access Services, 5, 197-209.
Sharpe, P. A. (2009) Circulating laptops: Lessons learned
in an academic library. Journal of Access Services, 6,
337-345.