San Francisco Public Library Eyes Laptop-Lending Kiosks

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The library wants to earmark $99,500 in its upcoming budget to purchase three laptop lending kiosks that would boost the number of available computers and remove the human element from the current system where librarians check out portable computers to patrons for inside use. The kiosk pilot program would start in July if the funds are approved.
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I’m a little skeptical of it,” Commissioner Larry Kane said. “I’d rather have, instead of $100,000 for kiosks, 20 or 30 more laptops.”
But the library says it’s a worthwhile investment to a growing laptop lending program that has six laptops available at each of the 27 branch libraries, except for the main library. Michael Liang, the library’s chief information officer, said limited availability of desktop computers and laptops are a top complaint, and he wants to double the number of laptops in the near future.

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See Also: Drexel University Library Introduces Kiosk Where Students Can Borrow Laptops 24×7 (Jan. 14, 2013)

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