Aston University library relies on LapSafe® intelligent laptop lockers
Aston University offers a 40 acre campus based right in the heart of Birmingham, boasting a population of 9,500 students. It offers its students world-class teaching facilities and fantastic graduate employment prospects.
During term time and exam periods, the university offers its students access to the library 24 hours a day, six days a week, and the library has a recognised award for its Customer Service Excellence.
The university library found that outside of staffed hours, they were unable to offer their students use of library laptops. That is when they approached LapSafe® Products to find the right Diplomat™ LMS solution to suit their needs.
Angela Brady, Assistant Director of Library and Information Services stated: "Before purchasing the LapSafe® Diplomat™ LMS, our laptops were only available for students to borrow during staffed hours. The university library wanted to be able to enhance the offering to students during 24 hour opening, by allowing them access to the laptops even if staff were not available."
This is when the university library decided to purchase a 48 laptop bay Diplomat™ LMS to integrate with their existing library management system Millennium, to manage the laptop loans. As Angela continues: "We were attracted to the product because of its self-service aspect, allowing the library to extend services outside of staffed hours. Our students love the product. The mechanical installation of the unit was also timely and very straightforward."
Today in the university library, around 200 laptop loans are transacted every single day. Angela said: "I would recommend the LapSafe® Diplomat™ LMS to other universities who want to maximise self service. Once the students have mastered the process of borrowing a laptop, they love the convenience of using the self-service lockers."
Universities enthusiasm for 24/7 device loan service
Universities are constantly evolving and in recent months we have seen universities starting to look at what they can offer students over and above other universities. LapSafe® is thrilled to have been working with many universities around the country as they choose to introduce a range of self-serving charging lockers.
The Diplomat™ LMS dynamic self-service charging lockers offer students access to self-service laptop (or iPad/Tablet) loans anytime and anywhere, allowing open access learning.
Many universities have already installed the LapSafe® Diplomat™ LMS in their libraries and by linking into their Library Management System, devices are loaned similar to books. This allows librarians to track and monitor equipment usage and save resources, whilst providing students with greater freedom and an improved user experience. What's more, students take ownership of the loaned device which leads to reduced damage and loss of equipment.
LapSafe® Products are proud to have partnered with D-Tech International Ltd to provide the integration between the Library Management Systems using SIP2. Students can identify themselves at a 19" touchscreen by using either RFID, barcode, magnetic stripe or biometrics. The charging lockers can also be configured to allow data transfer, which can save ICT Technician's time when making updates to the devices and an unlimited number of lockers can be deployed.
Where a university is supporting a BYOD (Bring You Own Device) scheme, LapSafe® also have a range of storage and charging lockers to accommodate students own personal devices. Students can loan an empty locker for a limited period of time allowing them to securely charge their devices whilst not in use.
Mark Exley, Business Development Director at LapSafe® said, "We are seeing more and more university libraries opening 24 hours a day which makes the Diplomat™ LMS self-service loan lockers ideal, Aston University is a prime example of this".
LapSafe® Products the pioneer of the UK's first ever laptop storage and charging trolley, has been providing the education sector with safe, secure and value for money solutions to manage mobile ICT for more than a decade. LapSafe® Products manufacture the most extensive range of charging products on the market and can provide quality solutions to meet every need and budget. Every solution exceeds British safety standards and is independently CE Certified and built to last. LapSafe® are proud to support British manufacturing by continually manufacturing their products in the UK.
For more information, where you will be able to download case studies from other universities already successfully using the Diplomat™ LMS range, please visit our dedicated website www.diplomatlockers.com.