The state of wireless laptop lending programs: A survey of academic libraries

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to learn, by way of a survey, what librarians at US colleges and universities were doing and the issues they were encountering as they considered, developed, or maintained wireless laptop computer lending programs (WLLP).

Design/methodology/approach

PHPSurveyor was used to construct a web‐based survey of librarians subscribed to any of 19 library‐related listservs. An invitation to participate in the survey was posted to each listserv on the same day.

Findings

Student usage of WLLPs ranged from extremely heavy to very light. Difficulties with library WLLPs were variously characterized as minor to stifling. Nevertheless, patterns emerged in the statistics as well as the additional comments given by many librarians. For example, librarians are much more ambivalent than the “experts” on the supposed cost savings generated by “going wireless”.

Practical implications

The results of this survey are useful to libraries planning their own WLLPs, providing insights into what to expect and what to account for, including (and beyond) equipment costs.

Originality/value

By comparing what was found by the two most relevant earlier studies with these new findings, this study provides a more current picture of WLLPs in academic libraries.

Citation

Holden, H. and Lei Hsieh, M. (2007), "The state of wireless laptop lending programs: A survey of academic libraries", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 260-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830710755018