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Printer-Friendly ModeLibrary loans iPads
April 25, 2011 —
If you have the technological taste for the latest and greatest, but have the shallow pocketbook of the average college student, you may want to hear about this pilot program.
The Zahnow Library now has three iPads available for students and faculty to check out.
The first generation wifi-only iPads may be checked out for three days using CardCat on Zahnow Library’s website.
Initially, the library purchased the iPads for its own use, but decided that students could get more out of them.
“We bought three of them and got familiar with them,” said Linda Farynk, library director. “Then we decided to make one of them available for check out.”
Due to the high demand and long waiting list for the iPad, they decided to make the other two available as well.
“Students have shown a lot of interest in the program so far,” Farynk said.
All three iPads have a waiting list.
The iPads are pre-loaded with apps such as Twitter, Foursquare, Google Earth, Dictionary.com, NY Times and WorldCat.
In addition, students are able to install free apps from the iPad App Store onto the device. Anything downloaded is deleted and original settings are restored when a student returns the iPad.
The library is always looking to expand its existing app collection.
“When students tell us about a cool app that they found, we sometimes go check it out ourselves,” Farynk said. “If it’s a free or inexpensive app and we like it, then we add it onto the iPads.”
In addition to the apps, the iPads have a selection of e-books from the New York Times Best Sellers list, such as “Cleopatra” by Stacy Schiff, “Moonwalking with Einstein” by Joshua Foer as well as “Life” by Keith Richards.
Farynk said the iPad checkout is a new pilot program for those interested in testing an iPad.
“We’re very interested in hearing what they thought of it,” Farynk said.
Currently, no insurance plan is offered for people who wish to check out the iPad, and a contract stating that the person assumes responsibility and cost for damaged, lost or stolen parts must be signed at the time of checkout.
Replacement costs are: $500 for the iPad, $30 for the power adapter, $10 for the USB cable and $20 for the case.
To ensure the safe return of each iPad, a $20/day late fee may also be enforced.
The iPad program, however, allows them to play with it for much longer than they can at the store to help them out with making their decision.
Farynk said the library hopes to expand this program to make more devices available, such as more iPads, the Amaon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook.
There are no plans to expand the inventory or add new devices.