[WEB4LIB] TAN: Leasing computers in libraries

[Donald Barclay]

My library is leasing its public-access computers. I'm not up on all the
financial deatails of the lease, which I didn't negotiate, but I'll share
what I know.

We have about 70 public-access machines--all Dells. The cost is about the
same as buying. We got a good service contract as part of the lease, but we
might have got the same thing if we had purchased the machines. 

What remains to be seen is what happens when the lease is up. At the end of
three years, the computers go back to Dell. This may sound kind of scary,
but on the other hand it does force the administrators' hands:

When the library owns the computers, the administrators can always say,
"Keep on using the machines you have." (Thus the explanation for those 286s
grinding away over in the corner.)

However, when the library leases the computers and the computers are going
bye-bye, the only choice is to come up with new computers or to not have any
computers at all. (At which point our users riot and burn down the
administration building.) 

I'm not sure how it will all work out, but my thinking is that leasing is
the smart way to go. After all, those corporate bean counters don't lease
computers because it is less cost effective than buying them. I'm convinced
enough that the next time I "buy" a home computer, I'm going to lease it
instead. I have to, as my garage is already filled with old computers I
can't give away. Anybody want a Commodore 64?

Donald A. Barclay                          always the beautiful answer
Houston Academy of Medicine-               who asks the more beautiful question
Texas Medical Center Library                        --e.e. cummings
donaldb at library.tmc.edu


At 02:34 PM 10/23/98 -0700, Patti Brommelsiek wrote:
>I hope this isn't too far off topic; if there's a better list to post to,
>just let me know.
>
>We are revamping our library technology plans and also determining how to
>spend some unanticipated technology grant money. I know that many
>corporations are moving towards leasing computers instead of purchasing
>them and wondered if this was an option we should explore. We of course
>have the typical problem of not knowing from one year to the next exactly
>what our budget will be and I can see the potential for disaster here. So,
>Web4Lib folk, the question is:  Is anyone doing this? What is your evaluation?
>
>If there is interest, I will summarize for the list. Thanks in advance!
>
>
>Patti Brommelsiek	
>Reference Librarian
>Grace Van Dyke Bird Library
>Bakersfield College
>Bakersfield CA
>(805) 395-4821
>
>