Expanding technology access

The University of Missouri-Columbia Information Access Technology Services (IATS) Computing Sites acquired an already existing laptop checkout program that our Memorial Union had in place. They had 10 laptops for short term checkout and it has become a very popular program. With our acquisition, we have increased the laptops from their existing 10 to 20 PC notebooks and 5 iBooks. We also have worked with the Engineering library to implement a laptop check out program that consists of 5 laptops with specialized software that the engineers use. With the success of this laptop checkout program, we are in the process of working with the student unions committee to implement a much larger program for our students, including over 100 laptops in 2008. In our programs, both at Memorial Union and the Engineering library, the laptops are checked out to students as a supplement to using the over 50 different computing sites located across campus. I will describe the specs of the laptops, our check out policies, tracking of the laptops, and discuss our expansion plans with the changing teaching environment and the use of laptops for group projects. My goal is to show how using laptops will effectively increase computing resources for students without expanding the physical space of computing sites.