We are receiving numerous requests from patrons to provide them a method to print directly from their phones. Is anyone currently doing this? How is it set up? Currently all printing is sent to our photocopier through the computer network, and patrons pick it up using a prepaid print card. We would also like something which does not require a lot of staff assistance. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. I am willing to compile responses if others are also interested. Margaret Bentley Adult Services Librarian Shiawassee District Library--Owosso 502 W. Main Street Owosso, Michigan 48867 989-725-5134
We just received some mobile hotspots on a grant. We are getting ready to lend them out to patrons. If you are a library that lends mobile hotspots can your share your policies with me? How long do you lend? Do you take a deposit? Are there late fees? Do you limit renewals? Also what other problems or pitfalls have occurred that we should be thinking about? Lori Haas Director Montmorency County Public Libraries P.O. Box 438 Atlanta, MI 49709 voice & fax - (989)785-3941
Hi, Lori: Cromaine has a circulation policy of 1 week, restricted to our patrons only. I've attached the policy that we include with instructions for operating the hotspot. We're a fine-free library, so we don't charge late fees, but we do charge a hefty $150 replacement fee for lost or damaged units. We recently had to charge a patron because her "puppy" ATE one of the hotspots. The dog is OK, but the hotspot unit itself was mangled beyond recognition, so I do recommend making the replacement fee very clear to patrons. If a hotspot is overdue, we shut off the data service. The patron is notified of this when they try to connect to the internet through the hotspot, so it's a very clear and effective method of getting the units returned. Otherwise, these units follow our standard circulation policies in terms of renewals. We did have to ban a patron from checking out these units when an attempt was made to remove the SIM chip so it could be used for some other purpose. Otherwise, these units are one of our top circulating items. Glenn Fischer Technology Manager Cromaine District Library ---------- Glenn Fischer Technology Manager Hartland's Cromaine Library P.O. Box 308 3688 N. Hartland Rd. Hartland, MI 48353 810-632-5200 x110 www.cromaine.org On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 3:53 PM Lori Haas via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:
We just received some mobile hotspots on a grant. We are getting ready to lend them out to patrons. If you are a library that lends mobile hotspots can your share your policies with me? How long do you lend? Do you take a deposit? Are there late fees? Do you limit renewals? Also what other problems or pitfalls have occurred that we should be thinking about?
Lori Haas Director Montmorency County Public Libraries P.O. Box 438 Atlanta, MI 49709 voice & fax - (989)785-3941
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participants (3)
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Glenn Fischer -
Lori Haas -
Margaret Bentley