[Web4lib] Laptop checkout security

[Andrew Nagy]

K.G. Schneider wrote:
> I'm not worried about what's ON the laptop, in terms of tampering-we would
> re-ghost machines on return. (Right, I don't need to be worried?)
> Peripherals would be checked out separately (I think...). In terms of wear
> and tear, we'd assume it would be pretty heavy, and per the online guidance,
> buy extra batteries and maybe some extra power cords. 
>   
And make sure you label all "removable" parts. We use a barcode label 
that can be scanned. We commonly will give out a laptop with a nice new 
battery and get an old dead battery with the laptop when it is 
returned.  If you label the battery, cdrom drive, etc. then students 
can't get away with "refreshing" their own laptops.  We have a laptop 
program on campus so our loaner laptops are the same as the laptops 
distributed to the students which makes it very easy for them to swap 
parts.  We have a quick checklist that the folks at the circ desk have 
to go through and check each part of the laptop when it is returned, 
this has really minimized on the "swaping" of dead parts.

We also have 2 batteries and 2 power cords for each laptop and a 4 bay 
quick charger that we can recharge batteries with in about an hour.  We 
have also come up with a 2 year replacement plan for all batteries to 
keep them fresh.

Good luck!
Andrew