Laptop Checkout Policy

Please read through our laptop checkout policy to understand expectations and responsibilities before checking out a laptop. 

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Authorized Borrowers

Authorized Borrowers

  • Students currently registered in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), who have paid the technology fee either in the current semester or in most recent semester in which it was required, and who have a valid University ID may borrow laptops.
  • The Borrower must have possession of the laptop at all times. The Borrower will not leave the laptop on a desk, in a vehicle, or otherwise out of Borrower's immediate possession, even momentarily.

Checkout

Checkout

  • If Borrower does not pick up laptop within two hours of the reservation time, the library staff reserves the right to check it out to another student.
  • Borrowers may check out one laptop at a time.
  • Laptops must be checked out during normal library hours. See www.lib.umn.edu/about/collections for library hours.
  • The Laptop Checkout Agreement Form above must be completed and a valid student identification card presented for checkout.
  • A library staff person will make sure that all necessary equipment is present and in working order.

Reservations

Reservations

  • Reservations may be made in advance only by calling the library or by talking to a library staff member.
  • Borrowers may have one reservation made for one laptop at a time.
  • Reservations can be made for only the semester currently in session.
  • Reservation times start when the library opens.

Check-In

Check-In

  • Return the laptop in person to a library staff person at the time specified.
  • Laptops must be returned to the library from which they were checked out during normal library hours.
  • Report any problems with the computer to the library staff.
  • A library staff person will make certain that all equipment checked out is returned and will evaluate the laptop's condition (e.g., free of physical defects or other obvious damage, powers up).

Failure to Return Computer

Failure to Return Computer

  • If the laptop is not returned within three days after the designated due date and time, and the borrower fails to fill out a police report and an insurance claim as specified under "Liability," CFANS will assess a replacement fee of $1,500.00 to the Borrower's University account.

Guarantee

Guarantee

  • CFANS will not guarantee that a laptop will be available for use at a reservation pick-up time in the event that a Borrower who checked out the laptop before has not returned it on time or the laptop was damaged during previous use. Library staff will make reasonable effort to have laptops ready at time of pickup but cannot guarantee there will be one available.
  • CFANS will not guarantee that the laptops will work flawlessly during each checkout, as they are not rebuilt between uses. It is the Borrower's responsibility to turn on the laptop in the library and test the software they intend to use to ensure it works as expected.

Authorized Uses

Authorized Uses

Unauthorized or Illegal Uses

Unauthorized or Illegal Uses

  • The laptop may be used only for legal, authorized purposes. Unauthorized or illegal uses include but are not limited to: harassment; viewing pornography; destruction of or damage to equipment, software, or data belonging to others; unauthorized copying of copyrighted materials; and private business unrelated to University activities. Borrowers must never engage in any activity that might be harmful to systems or to any information stored thereon, such as creating or propagating viruses, disrupting services, or damaging files, or making unauthorized changes to hardware or software.
  • If a laptop is obtained from CFANS by fraud or misrepresentation, or is obtained in furtherance of an illegal purpose, all use of the laptop is WITHOUT PERMISSION.
  • Absolutely no personal or confidential information, including any financial, health-related, grade-related, or other non-public information, may be saved to the computer's hard drive.

Damage, Repairs, Loss

Damage, Repairs, Loss

  • Do not leave the laptop unattended, even for brief moments, such as going to the bathroom, picking up food from a restaurant counter, or talking with friends.
  • Keep the laptop away from water, humidity, extreme temperatures and beverages.
  • Do not drop the laptop. Maintain control of the laptop in whatever position that you work.
  • Return the laptop to the library in the same condition it was received, except for ordinary wear. If an accident occurs, do not attempt to fix the laptop. Instead, bring back the damaged laptop for CFANS IT staff to evaluate or repair.
  • Do not tamper with or alter the computer or permit any repair to the computer or the replacement of any part in the computer without prior express, written consent of the CFANS IT staff.
  • The Borrower will pay for all unauthorized repairs and replacement parts, as well as the cost of restoring any unauthorized alterations.
  • In case of accidental damage or non-crime related loss, the Borrower shall promptly notify the library, and if in possession of the laptop, return it to the library for repairs. A Borrower must cooperate fully with library and IT staff in documenting what led to the damage or loss of the laptop.
  • In case of significant damage due to crime or theft of the computer, the Borrower shall promptly complete incident reports with the police and deliver a copy of all related documents to the library. A Borrower must fully cooperate with the investigation of any vandalism, theft, claim, or lawsuit involving use of the computer while it is checked out in his or her name.

Liability

Liability

  • CFANS has insurance to cover theft of or criminal damage to the laptop for which a police report has been filed and copies provided to the library. In the event of a theft or criminal damage to the laptop while it is checked out, the Borrower will pay the $500 insurance deductible.
  • The Borrower will pay for all repairs not covered under the computer warranty or insurance policy due to accident or misuse.
  • The Borrower consents to and authorizes CFANS to process all charges due on the Borrower's University account. The Borrower will also pay all costs of collection, including attorney fees, and interest at the highest rate permitted by law on any past-due amounts.
  • CFANS, the University, and/or the library is/are not responsible for any computer virus that may be transferred to or from a user's disc or network account.
  • CFANS, the University, and/or the library is/are not responsible for files remaining on the laptop or for any loss of or damage to a Borrower's files as a consequence of use of the laptop. Save work to media in your control before returning the laptop.
    • E-mail the work (files) to your e-mail account.
    • FTP the files to your account page.
    • Save files to a disk (CD/DVD), google drive, or USB storage device.
  • All information left on the laptop will be deemed public information, and will not be protected by any laws protecting any privacy or financial, health-related, grade-related, or other personal or private information. CFANS, the University, and/or the library is/are not responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any such information.
  • The Borrower waives all claims against CFANS, the University, and/or the library for all damages, including direct, incidental, special or consequential, in connection with the furnishing, performance or use of the laptop computer.

Failure to comply with all terms and conditions of this agreement will result in the loss of laptop borrowing privileges. Any library or IT staff may revoke laptop privileges at any time they deem necessary in their sole discretion. Policy revised: 08/19