The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Golda Meir Library began offering laptop computers for check out Monday, Dec. 5.

The Multimedia Library in the East Wing will be offering four-hour checkout for 30 laptop computers. The used Dell Latitude D800 laptops have been purchased by the library from Information & Media Technologies. The computers can be rented without cost. They will be offered for checkout like any book, CD or DVD.

The service is funded by the Campus Educational Technology Grant, said Vanaja Menon, assistant director of Libraries in the Public Services Division.

“We are very grateful for this funding that allows us to address an obvious and expressed need by our students,” Menon said.

Menon explained that the checkout of laptops was planned to begin earlier in the semester but had been delayed while waiting for some parts from Dell to repair a few laptops.

“We are planning to set aside five laptops for a two-day, 48-hour check-out if a student has an obvious need for one,” Menon said.

The laptops will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to current UWM students. Students will be able to use the computers anywhere on campus that they can access ProwlNet.

In order to check out a laptop, students must have their UWM student ID.

Students are expected to be responsible users. Users will be expected to pay for repair and replacement costs if the laptop or components are damaged, lost or stolen.

According to the Multimedia Library Web site, there is a $10 late fee per hour past due. Students could be responsible for up to $1,000 if there is damage or if the laptop is lost.

“We will remind our students to be very careful not to leave a laptop unattended no matter where they use it,” Menon said.

All the necessary information will be contained on the Multimedia Library’s site. The user and rental policy can be viewed there.

The Dell Latitude D800 laptops will have 15-inch screens and will come equipped with most of the necessary programs. They will run on the Windows XP operating system and include Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox for Web browsing.

They will also have Microsoft Office 2003 including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Publisher. The laptops will have Windows Media Player, Real Player and QuickTime for media file playing and have Adobe Acrobat and Nero CD Writing Software.

The laptops will also come with a carrying case, AC power cord and surge protector. In order to save work, a student will need to save to a CD or USB storage device, both provided by the student.

A copy of the Laptop User Instructions will also come in the carrying case.

The laptop checkout policy can be read at the library’s Web site, http://www.uwm.edu/Library/media/laptop_checkout.html.

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