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Library Online: Borrow a library laptop

Library Laptop Loans

Hallam Library offers our students the opportunity to work flexibly with our laptop loan service. To compliment the 24/7/365 learning spaces, self-service laptop loans are available from both Adsetts and Collegiate campus libraries 24/7/365. Laptops are available to loan for one day or one week and can be used on or off campus.

By borrowing a library laptop you are agreeing that you have read and understood the Hallam Library Laptop Loans Policy

 

Borrowing a library laptop - top things you need to know:

 
  • Your library offers laptops that can be borrowed for one day or one week, these are located in different self-service laptop lockers in the libraries and can be borrowed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can find out where the laptop lockers are located here.
  • Please ensure that you have read and understood the ‘Hallam Library Laptop Loans Policy’ before borrowing a library laptop as overdue fines are charged for late returns.
  • In order to borrow a library laptop you will need your physical valid student card. Instructions on how to borrow a laptop from a library locker can be found here for day loans and here for week loans.
  • You can borrow one laptop at a time, and the information about when to return can be found on My Library Account. Laptops loans are not renewable or extendable and must be returned by the due date and due time in order to avoid fines.
  • The first thing you should do once you have borrowed a library laptop is log in whilst on-campus with your SHU login details. The laptop will not work off-campus if you do not follow this step.

Returning a library laptop - top things you need to know:

 
  • Please make sure that you have saved all files to an appropriate place (see here for help with that) and that these are not saved to the laptop desktop.
  • You will need your physical valid student card to return a library laptop. This is the only way to open the numbered laptop bay that you borrowed the laptop from.
  • The laptop must be returned to the same library building, laptop locker and laptop numbered bay that you borrowed the device from.
  • Follow the instructions on how to return a library laptop making sure that you plug the laptop into the numbered laptop bay. If you do not follow this step the laptop will not be returned.
  • When you have returned the laptop check My Library Account to make sure that the device has been removed from your library account. If there are any issues, notify us immediately. If you fail to do so you may be charged overdue fines.
  • After returning a library laptop you will not be able to borrow another device of the same loan type for a fixed period of time.
 

Hallam Library Laptop Loans Policy

1. Hallam Library Laptop Service

  1. Hallam Library offers laptop loans to Sheffield Hallam University students. Other groups are not eligible to use this service.
  2. The service is operated on a first-come/first-served basis, bookings, requests and reservations are not offered.
  3. Library laptops are offered on a self-service basis, with fixed loan duration options of one day and one week. These are the only loan periods offered.
  4. Once borrowed library laptops can be used on or off campus but must not be taken outside of the United Kingdom.
  5. Access to a library laptop loan is not guaranteed and should not be relied upon to complete University assessed work including exams. Hallam Library offers 24 hour learning spaces that can be booked in advance for this purpose.
  6. Hallam Library offers laptop loans to all students on the same basis. Where a student has additional needs and requires a guaranteed laptop, or to use a laptop for an extended period of time, this should be discussed with a Student Support Adviser to enable a referral to appropriate support services.
  7. Library laptops are a shared resource and students are expected to use the service responsibly and in good faith to ensure fair access for all. Failure to do so may result in access to this service being revoked.

2. Borrowing a Library Laptop

  1. If you are aware of any circumstances that will prevent you from returning a library laptop by the due date and due time at the point of borrowing, then you should not borrow a laptop. Overdue fines are charged for late returns (see section 4).
  2. When borrowing a library laptop it is your responsibility to make sure that you understand how to borrow and return the laptop and laptop charger correctly before you attempt to do so, and that you have asked for help from staff if you do not understand.
  3. In order to borrow a library laptop you must have your own physical valid student card. Borrowing or attempting to borrow a laptop with someone else's student card breaches the Library Code of Conduct and may result in your access to this service being revoked.
  4. Borrowing a library laptop using other methods of identification is not possible, as these do not work on the library laptop lockers, this includes temporary library day passes.
  5. You can have one University laptop on loan to you at a time.
  6. If you have a library laptop on loan, you are responsible for the laptop and laptop charger and they should not be left unattended at any point. You should make every effort to ensure that the laptop and laptop charger are not damaged, lost, or stolen whilst on loan to you. Hallam Library reserves the right to charge a replacement cost of £600 in these circumstances, and/or to charge for any repairs required.
  7. Library laptops are marked to deter theft and to assist identification and recovery, and usage is also logged.
  8. Whilst a library laptop is on loan to you, you must be the only person to log in to the laptop and you must not loan the laptop to anyone else. You must also ensure that you follow the Sheffield Hallam University ‘Regulations for the use of IT facilities and learning resources’. Failure to do so is a breach of the Library Code of Conduct and may result in your access to this service being revoked.

3. Returning a Library Laptop

  1. Library laptop loans do not automatically renew, cannot be extended and must be returned by the due date and due time. Where library laptops are not returned on time overdue fines are charged according to the library laptop fines policy (see section 4).
  2. Before returning a laptop you must ensure that all of your files are saved to an appropriate place (see here) and that these are not saved to the laptop desktop. Hallam library accepts no responsibility for files left on library laptops, for security reasons this content is removed from devices.
  3. In order to return a library laptop you must have your own physical valid student card. Returning or attempting to return a laptop with someone else's student card breaches the Library Code of Conduct and may result in your access to this service being revoked.
  4. You are unable to return a library laptop using other methods of identification, as these do not work on the library laptop lockers, this includes temporary library day passes.
  5. You must bring your physical valid student card to return a library laptop and the laptop and laptop charger must be returned by you to the appropriate library laptop locker. We will not accept any returns without your physical valid student card, except where there is a technical fault that prevents the device from being returned to the locker.
  6. The laptop and laptop charger must be returned to the same library building, laptop locker and numbered laptop bay that you borrowed them from. Returns via other methods will not be accepted, laptops must not be returned via the postal service.
  7. When returning a laptop and laptop charger you are responsible for ensuring the equipment is returned correctly and that any issues with returning the laptop or laptop charger are reported to Hallam Library immediately. If you fail to do so you may be charged overdue fines.
  8. After returning a library laptop you will be unable to borrow another device of the same loan type for a fixed period of time, this is to ensure fair access to the service for all.

4. Library Laptop Fines

  1. To ensure fair and equitable access to the library laptop service, overdue fines are charged for late return of library laptops.
  2. In order to avoid library laptop fines you must return laptops by the due date and due time stated on My Library Account.
  3. Any library laptop returned later than the due date and due time will incur fines of £5 per day, up to a maximum of £60 until the laptop is returned.
  4. As per the Hallam Library borrowing policy, once overdue fines total £30 or more, your access to borrowing further library items will be blocked. To re-enable borrowing your library fines must be reduced to under £30.
  5. All library laptop fines are payable and waiving will not be considered, except where they meet the library laptop extenuating circumstances criteria (see section 5) or where there is a service interruption or outage that is beyond the control of a student.
  6. Library laptop fines must be paid online here.
  7. If a library laptop reaches 28 days overdue you will automatically be charged the replacement cost of £600.
  8. Repeated abuse of the library laptop loans service, including excessive and repeated fines may result in your access to this service being revoked.

5. Extenuating Circumstances

  1. Hallam Library operates extenuating circumstances policies to support students where there is a legitimate reason for being unable to return a library laptop on time.
  2. Hallam Library reserves the right to use discretion when reviewing extenuating circumstances and takes a case by case approach.
  3. You must notify Hallam Library as soon as you are able within the loan period if you have extenuating circumstances which prevent you from returning the library laptop by the due date and due time.
  4. Hallam Library understands that it is not always easy to disclose personal, private, and sensitive matters. If you have concerns about doing this then please discuss them with a Student Support Adviser. Anything that you tell Hallam Library or your Student Support Adviser will be treated in the strictest confidence. Information will be securely stored and only seen by those members of staff responsible for processing and considering your request.
  5. Hallam Library will consider extenuating circumstances requests where Hallam Library is notified during the loan period, where the impact of the event is clearly stated, and where appropriate documentary evidence is provided.
  6. Hallam Library defines legitimate extenuating circumstances to be sudden and unexpected events that occur during the period that the laptop is on loan to you, that you could not have reasonably anticipated and that prevent you from returning the laptop. Issues that are known to you before borrowing a laptop are not considered extenuating circumstances (see section 2.1).
  7. Hallam Library considers sudden and unexpected events of the following types to be extenuating circumstances; a medical emergency or the sudden emergence of ill health, the bereavement of someone close to you.
  8. In support of extenuating circumstances, Hallam Library requires either a dated medical note that covers the period of the specific library laptop loan in question, or supporting confirmation from your Student Support Adviser that you were unable to attend University during the period of the specific library laptop loan in question.
  9. You are responsible for returning the library laptop to the library as soon as the extenuating circumstances period has ended. Outside of this period the standard library laptop loan policy applies (see above sections) and fines/replacement costs may be charged where a laptop is not returned.
  10. There are some life circumstances and study related issues that do not meet Hallam Library’s definition of extenuating circumstances. Either because they can be avoided or because you can be reasonably expected to manage the impact. The following situations are not considered to be extenuating circumstances:
  • Ongoing situations occurring prior to the loan of the library laptop
  • The break-up of a relationship
  • Financial difficulties and the cost of living
  • Course placements, holidays or travel, including working in another location or travelling home during University breaks
  • Leaving the library laptop outside of your possession, e.g., at your home address
  • Living in a different town/city, postcode or county to the University
  • Changes to living situation
  • Family and social occasions
  • Work commitments
  • Child care arrangements
  • Weather conditions that the University does not consider to be adverse weather events
  • Not giving yourself sufficient time to return the library laptop
  • Requiring the library laptop to complete University assessed work
  • Failure to check your University email or library account and act upon notifications asking you to return
  • Refusal to return to the University campus to return the laptop
  • Withdrawal of IT facilities as a result of you being in debt to the University or your library borrowing account being blocked
  • English being your second language
  • Transport difficulties that could easily have been avoided and/or where an alternative is available

 

Day loan laptops

Adsetts Library

The one day loan laptop locker is located on Level 4, next to the main staircase.

 

Collegiate Library

The one day loan laptop locker is located on the ground floor, walk straight ahead after entering through the access barriers, the locker is on the right-hand side.

 

If you would like further help locating the laptop locker, please ask at the reception point when you arrive.

How to borrow a one day loan laptop:

  1. Make sure that you have read and understood the information on this page including the ‘Hallam Library Laptop Loans Policy’.
  2. Check the small electronic display screen on the left-hand side of the laptop locker, this will tell you if any laptops are available for loan - if the screen shows ‘0’ this means that all laptops are currently on loan/unavailable and you will need to check another laptop locker, or try again at another time.
  3. If a laptop is available, scan your Sheffield Hallam University student ID card on the card reader - this is located just below the small electronic display screen.
  4. The small electronic display screen will tell you which numbered laptop bay you can access - a small light on the locker will also flash to show you where that laptop bay is located.
  5. Quickly press the black button next to the flashing light on the laptop bay to open the door - if the bay door is not opened within 20 seconds the system will time-out and the laptop loan will automatically end.
  6. Carefully unplug the laptop from the locker bay and remove it along with the laptop charger provided.
  7. Close the laptop bay door - if the door has been closed correctly the small electronic display screen will say: ‘Device loan has been added to your library account’ - if the door has not been closed correctly an alarm will sound until the laptop bay door is successfully closed.
  8. The laptop has now been added to your library account and the due date and due time showing when the laptop must be returned can be found on My Library Account.
  9. Before you leave the library, log in to the laptop with your Sheffield Hallam University login details - if you do not follow this step the laptop will not work off-campus.

How to return a one day loan laptop:

One day laptop loans are not renewable, cannot be extended and must be returned to the same library building, laptop locker and laptop bay that they were borrowed from by the due date and due time. All one day loan laptops must be returned by 23:59 (11:59pm) the day after borrowing.

  1. Take the laptop and laptop charger back to the same library building and laptop locker that you borrowed it from, either on or before the due date and due time displayed on My Library Account - overdue fines are charged for late returns.
  2. Scan your Sheffield Hallam University student ID card on the card reader - this is located just below the small electronic display screen.
  3. Return the laptop and chrger to the bay
  4. The laptop locker will automatically open the laptop locker bay that you borrowed the laptop from.
  5. Place the laptop and the laptop charger inside the locker bay and plug the laptop back into the laptop locker using the power cable inside the bay - this is a different cable to the laptop charger that you borrowed - if you do not follow this step the laptop will not be returned correctly and you will be charged overdue fines.
  6. Close the locker bay door - if the return has been successful the small electronic display screen will say: ‘Device loan cancelled and has been removed from your library account’ - if the locker bay door will not close and is making a beeping noise this means that you have not plugged the laptop into the locker bay correctly.
  7. Check My Library Account straight afterwards to make sure that you have successfully returned the laptop. If there are any issues with the return, contact us immediately to report them.
 

Week loan laptops

Adsetts Library

The one week loan laptop locker is located on Level 4, on the left-hand side as you enter the library café area.

 

Collegiate Library

The one week loan laptop locker is located on the ground floor, walk straight ahead after entering through the access barriers, the locker is on the left-hand side.

 

If you would like further help locating the laptop locker, please ask at the reception point when you arrive.

How to borrow a one week loan laptop:

Adsetts Library

  1. Make sure that you have read and understood the information on this page including the ‘Hallam Library Laptop Loans Policy’.
  2. The laptop locker has a large electronic display screen, press the ‘Borrow’ button on the screen, this will tell you if a week loan laptop is available - if the screen indicates that there are no laptops available, this means that all laptops are currently on loan/unavailable and you will need to check another laptop locker, or try again at another time.
  3. If a laptop is available, the screen will ask you to scan your Sheffield Hallam University student ID card on the card reader - this is a black rectangle located just below the large electronic display screen.
  4. The screen will ask you to accept or decline the library terms and conditions - these can be found here - Press ‘Accept’ to proceed with the loan (if you decline the terms and conditions you will be unable to borrow a laptop).
  5. The large electronic display screen will tell you which numbered laptop bay you can access - The locker bay will also light up to show you where that laptop bay is located.
  6. Quickly open the numbered laptop bay to access the laptop - if the bay door is not opened within 20 seconds the system will time-out and the laptop loan will automatically end.
  7. Carefully unplug the laptop from the locker bay and remove it along with the laptop charger provided.
  8. Close the laptop bay door, The large screen will also display a message ‘device loan until Date/Time’
  9. Press the ‘Finish’ button on the screen to complete the loan
  10. The laptop has now been added to your library account and the due date and due time showing when the laptop must be returned can be found on My Library Account.
  11. Before you leave the library, log in to the laptop with your Sheffield Hallam University login details - if you do not follow this step the laptop will not work off-campus.

Collegiate Library

  1. Make sure that you have read and understood the information on this page including the ‘Hallam Library Laptop Loans Policy’.
  2. Check the small electronic display screen on the left-hand side of the laptop locker, this will tell you if any laptops are available for loan - if the screen shows ‘0’ this means that all laptops are currently on loan/unavailable and you will need to check another laptop locker, or try again at another time.
  3. If a laptop is available, scan your Sheffield Hallam University student ID card on the card reader - this is located just below the small electronic display screen.
  4. The small electronic display screen will tell you which numbered laptop bay you can access - a small light on the locker will also flash to show you where that laptop bay is located.
  5. Quickly press the black button next to the flashing light on the laptop bay to open the door - if the bay door is not opened within 20 seconds the system will time-out and the laptop loan will automatically end.
  6. Carefully unplug the laptop from the locker bay and remove it along with the laptop charger provided.
  7. Close the laptop bay door - if the door has been closed correctly the small electronic display screen will say: ‘Device loan has been added to your library account’ - if the door has not been closed correctly an alarm will sound until the laptop bay door is successfully closed.
  8. The laptop has now been added to your library account and the due date and due time showing when the laptop must be returned can be found on My Library Account.
  9. Before you leave the library, log in to the laptop with your Sheffield Hallam University login details - if you do not follow this step the laptop will not work off-campus.

How to return a one week loan laptop:

One week laptop loans are not renewable, cannot be extended and must be returned to the same library building, laptop locker and laptop bay that they were borrowed from by the due date and due time. All one week loan laptops must be returned by 23:59 (11:59pm) 7 days after borrowing.

Adsetts Library

  1. Take the laptop and laptop charger back to the same library building and laptop locker that you borrowed it from, either on or before the due date and due time displayed on My Library Account - overdue fines are charged for late returns.
  2. The laptop locker has a large electronic display screen, press the ‘Return’ button on the screen. Scan your Sheffield Hallam University student ID card on the card reader - this is a black rectangle located just below the large electronic display screen.
  3. The laptop locker will automatically unlock the laptop locker bay that you borrowed the laptop from.
  4. Place the laptop and the laptop charger inside the locker bay and plug the laptop back into the laptop locker using the power cable inside the bay - this is a different cable to the laptop charger that you borrowed, if you do not follow this step the laptop will not be returned correctly and you will be charged overdue fines.
  5. Close the locker bay door - press the ‘Finish’ button to complete the return .
  6. Check My Library Account straight afterwards to make sure that you have successfully returned the laptop. If there are any issues with the return, contact us immediately to report them.

Collegiate Library

  1. Take the laptop and laptop charger back to the same library building and laptop locker that you borrowed it from, either on or before the due date and due time displayed on My Library Account - overdue fines are charged for late returns.
  2. Scan your Sheffield Hallam University student ID card on the card reader - this is located just below the small electronic display screen.
  3. Return the laptop and charger to the bay
  4. The laptop locker will automatically open the laptop locker bay that you borrowed the laptop from.
  5. Place the laptop and the laptop charger inside the locker bay and plug the laptop back into the laptop locker using the power cable inside the bay - this is a different cable to the laptop charger that you borrowed - if you do not follow this step the laptop will not be returned correctly and you will be charged overdue fines.
  6. Close the locker bay door - if the return has been successful the small electronic display screen will say: ‘Device loan cancelled and has been removed from your library account’ - if the locker bay door will not close and is making a beeping noise this means that you have not plugged the laptop into the locker bay correctly.
  7. Check My Library Account straight afterwards to make sure that you have successfully returned the laptop. If there are any issues with the return, contact us immediately to report them.

Adsetts Library
Collegiate Library



Sheffield Hallam University
City Campus, Howard Street
Sheffield S1 1WB