Wireless Laptop Lending Program Bierce Library The University of Akron

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Wireless Laptop Lending Program_at_ Bierce
LibraryThe University of Akron

• Susan DiRenzo
• Systems Coordinator, University Libraries
• Phyllis OConnor
• Associate Dean, University Libraries
• CWRU
• 05.02.02

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BackgroundThe University of Akron / Bierce
Library

• The University of Akron is the third largest
  publicly-assisted university in Ohio, serving
  23,000 students
• Bierce Library is the main campus library,
  housing 1.4 million volumes and circulating about
  250,000 items annually
• There are 37 hard-wired workstations located in
  Bierce Library

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BackgroundComputing Services _at_ UA

• During the Fall 2000 semester, the university had
  eight open computer labs that each had 30
  workstations. Lines were long, and equipment
  was outdated.
• In December 2000 the open lab in Bierce was
  closed.
• Help Desk located in Computer Center (south end
  of campus)
• PC Repair was disconnected

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Wireless Laptop PilotInstitutional Benefits

• Reduces cost of wiring
• Reduces space devoted to labs
• Makes technical support easier
• Encourages innovation in teaching and learning

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Wireless Laptop ProgramBenefits To Students,
Faculty Staff

• Standard hardware software configuration
• Mobile connectivity to network
• Ease of use requiring little assistance
• Increased service support
• Creation of Technology Learning Support Center
  (TLSC)

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Wireless Laptop ProgramUnexpected Benefits

• Collaboration
• Forced collaboration on initial project
• All IS departments on task force
• Forged new relationships
• Created willingness to work together on other
  projects initiatives
• Revitalization of Bierce
• Increased foot traffic
• Creation of Bierce Librarys Cyber Café

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Network

• Campus-wide site survey
• Local consulting firm
• Location and number of access points, types of
  antennas
• Access Points (Cisco Aironet 340 Series)
• 11 Mbps
• 802.11b compliant
• Supports Windows 2000
• Approximately 29 located in Bierce Library
• Adapters (Cisco Aironet AIR-PCM340)
• 802.11b compliant
• Supports up to 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy
  (WEP) encryption

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Desktop Image

• Ghost
• Restore/re-image
• Add to domain, set printers, set admin password
• Used to create and distribute laptop image
• New images created for major system changes
• PCR-Dist
• Refresh
• Updates for image (short cuts, new software,
  wallpaper, etc.)
• Need to establish procedure/schedule for refreshes

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Phase I of Bierce Librarys Laptop Lending Program

• Do It Fast!
• Keep it Simple!

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Wireless Laptop PilotWhy?

• To gather information from a small group
• To establish controlled test areas
• 220 Classroom (Law School)
• 71 Faculty/Staff (VPCIO CCTC)
• 15 Delta Gamma Sorority
• 60 Lab (Bierce Library)
• To create a positive marketing environment
• To build consensus (get them hooked and reel them
  in)

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Wireless Laptop PilotWorking groups

• Campus-wide task force
• Included groups targeted to receive
• Key members from various VP/CIO departments
  Networking, UA Web Team, PC Services, Help Desk,
  Library Systems, and Application Systems
• Bierce Library working group
• Included staff from Circulation and Library
  Systems

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Circulating Hardware

• 60 IBM ThinkPad (T20) Laptop Computers
• 2 hour loan period (internal battery)
• 3.5 Floppy Drive
• Cisco Wireless Adapter

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Installed Software

• Windows 2000
• Microsoft Office 2000 Professional
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• McAfee Anti-virus
• Hummingbird Host Explorer
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
• Visual Studio (Visual Basic, C)
• SAS
• SPSS

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Why INNOPAC?

• Availability
• Ease of use
• Ease of training
• Able to accommodate hourly transactions
• Ability to gather usage statistics easily

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INNOPAC Setup

• Create Bib record
• Create Item Record
• Create new Item Type
• Create new Loan Rule
• Edit Loan Rule Selection Table

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Security

• Network OS security issues handled by other IS
  units
• Laptops security stripped
• Gates at main entrance/exit
• Possible installation of cameras at other exits
• IBM and Cisco serial numbers logged (INNOPAC and
  PC Repair database)

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Support/Maintenance

• Library Systems was responsible for support and
  maintenance (image maintenance, refreshing, basic
  troubleshooting)
• Collaborated with Learning Technologys Help Desk
  and Campus PC-Repair

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Circulation Policy

• 2 hour loan period, 1 renewal
• Fine 10/hour, 200/maximum
• 15 minute grace period
• University ID held while the laptop is checked
  out
• 2000 minimum replacement for laptop
• Up to 100 replacement for components
• Limited to current UA students, faculty, and staff

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Circulation Procedures

• Checklist to protect both parties
• Boot-up and shutdown at desk (most time-consuming
  part)
• Lockdown cable optional
• Visual inspection of floppy drive and wireless
  card
• 2nd Identification card to verify Univ. ID

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Service Desk Issues

• Needed to open a separate Laptop Circ desk
• 15 student employees working 12-20 hours a week
  (approx. 225 hours total)
• Laptops circulate from time library opens until
  30 minutes before library closes

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Usage Patterns

• Average monthly circulation
• 2500 in March 2001
• Daily circulation ranged from as few as 25 on
  weekends to as many as 190 on weekdays

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Results of Two-Way Online Survey

• Feedback - Positive
• Convenience
• Privacy
• Comfort
• Mobility
• Ease of Use

• Feedback - Negative
• Printing
• Connectivity Limited To The Building
• Loan Length
• Lack of Shared Server Space
• CD-ROM Drives, Zip Drives, Mice

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Survey Results

• How comfortable was the laptop to use?
• 62 -- Easy to use, comfortable
• 29 -- Not bad I got used to it
• 07 -- The keyboard, mouse or display was
  difficult to use
• 02 -- Uncomfortable I couldnt get my
• work done

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Survey Results

• Did the laptop have all of the software that you
  needed?
• 75 --Yes
• 25 --No
• Visual Studio and Real Player were most requested
  additional software

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Survey Results

• Please rate the checkout process
• 43 -- Efficient and quick
• 45 -- About what I expected
• 12 -- Took too long

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Phase II of Bierce Librarys Laptop Lending
Program

• Expanding, Reacting, and Evolving!
• OrNo Longer Keeping It Simple

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Installed Software

• Windows 2000
• Microsoft Office 2000 Professional
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• McAfee Anti-virus
• Hummingbird Host Explorer
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
• Visual Studio (Visual Basic, C)
• SAS
• SPSS
• Course specific software

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Circulating Hardware

• 120 -- IBM ThinkPad (T20) Laptop Computers
• 96 -- 2 hour machines (w/ internal battery)
• 24 -- 4 hour machines (w/ extended life Ultrabay
  battery)
• 3.5 Floppy Drive
• DVD/CD-ROM Drive
• Cisco Wireless Adapter
• Microsoft Mouse
• 250 MB External Zip Drive
• A/C adaptor

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INNOPAC SetupAdditional Laptop Accessories

• Created new Bib Item records
• Created new Item Types
• Created/edited new Loan Rules
• Edited Loan Rule Selection Table

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Security

• All laptops must be accounted for at all times
• Laptops checked-out on INNOPAC to PC Repair or
  library staff
• Consistent use of In Repair and In Use slips
• Agreements and IDs carefully filed in proper
  laptop slot
• At quick glance all laptops cart can be accounted
  for by presence of either a laptop or a slip
  indicating disposition of machine

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Hardware SoftwareSupport/Maintenance

• HW/SW support handled by Learning Technologies
  Support Center Help Desk located on Ground Floor
  of Bierce Library
• 7 days / 103 hours a week
• Laptop problems documented and logged
• IBM certified IS staff reviews, troubleshoots,
  and repairs problem laptops
• Image creation and maintenance handled by
  Learning Technologies technical staff (in
  consultation with Library Systems staff)

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Service Desk Issues

• 15 student employees working 15 25 hours per
  week (300 per week total)
• Added two new circulation stations (4 total)
• Added informational signage

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Usage Patterns

• Average monthly laptop circulation
• 2 hour laptops 5,500
• 4 hour laptops 850
• Total laptops 6,350
• Average monthly peripheral circulation
• Zip Drives 250
• Mice 500
• Power Adapters 900

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Challenges of Bierce Librarys Laptop Lending
Program

• Power
• Security
• Class/Classroom/Course Requests

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The Struggle for Power

• Problems
• Battery life/capacity
• Battery swapping
• Current Solutions
• Reconditioning batteries
• Replacing batteries
• Adapters
• Better Solutions?

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Class/Classroom/Course Requests

• Problem
• Unannounced, unscheduled mass of students
  requesting use of laptops
• Faculty wanting to reserve laptops for course or
  individual class (in and outside of the library)
• Current Solution
• Mobile Lab
• Two carts holding 30 wireless laptops each
• Library Training/Teaching Rooms

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Security

• Problems
• Violating policy
• Negligence
• Theft
• Current Solution
• A wing a prayer
• Possible Solutions
• Consultation with UAPD
• Security cameras
• Radio frequency security tags

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Current Future Plans

• Address ADA accessibility issues
• Continue to address security issues
• Adapt to university-wide laptop program
• Implement laptop program in newly renovated
  Science Library Fall 2002
• Survey users in Fall 2002

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The Last Word

• The laptops are great . . .a wireless LAN across
  the campus would kick ass.
• -Student comment from laptop survey

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Wireless Laptop Lending Program_at_ Bierce
LibraryThe University of Akron

• Presentation
• http//www.uakron.edu/library/ulsys/presentations/
  cwru2002
• direnzo_at_uakron.edu
• oconnor_at_uakron.edu