Director of access services for the Bailey Library, Bethany Kennedy, presents one of the 11 borrowable laptops. Josh Mehay | Washtenaw Voice
By Catherine Engstrom-Hadley
Staff Writer
The Bailey Library now offers laptops for students to borrow, free of charge. The laptops, along with accessories, can be checked out for three hours at a time.
The limited space that the regular library computers offers made it difficult for students to work on group projects, which prompted the library’s addition of laptops, according to Bethany Kennedy, director of access services for the Bailey Library.
“Laptops are more flexible for student use. Students can work more collaboratively with laptops, use our group study rooms and have access to a computer or sit back in a comfy chair for individual study,” said Kennedy.
Eleven laptops are available for check out at the front desk of the library in the Gunder Myran building.
“Laptops are so heavy to carry, so being able to check one out would be very helpful,” said Kaia Constantineides, a WCC student studying physical therapy.
Muhammad Tello, a computer science major said the laptops would’ve been useful for him when he lost his own power cord.
The laptops feature the same software and functions as other library computers, including Microsoft Office Suite and printing capabilities.
The laptops were made available by a $10,000 foundation grant, which covered the cost of the laptops, accessories, and the laptop cart.
Besides books and laptops, the Bailey Library also offers calculators, headphones, and DVDs for students to check out, according to Kennedy.
The laptops are available in the Bailey Library for student use now. They must stay in the library at all times and can only be checked out by students with their WCC ID.
