Borrowing a laptop or hotspot from campus or the library

When your own laptop breaks or home internet drops out, a campus or public library loan can keep you working. It helps to know where to borrow, which terms to read first, and how to return a device without picking up a fee or an account hold.

Where to borrow

Campus libraries often lend laptops for a few hours or a few days, and some lend them for a whole term. IT departments, student success centers and basic needs offices sometimes run longer loans for students with a documented need. Chargers, calculators, headphones and webcams are often available at the same desk.

Many public libraries lend mobile hotspots that run on a cellular network, which can stand in for home internet for a short time. Hotspots tend to have waiting lists, so place a hold early and ask how long the loan lasts.

Read the loan terms first

Each loan comes with an agreement that sets the due date, renewal rules and late charges. It also explains who pays if the device is lost, stolen or damaged, which can mean the full replacement cost. Ask whether an unpaid charge can place a hold on your student account, because a hold can block registration and transcripts.

Some programs limit loans to students enrolled in a minimum number of credits or to those with an aid application on file. The lending office sets these rules and can tell you which ones apply.

Ask the lending desk

• How long the loan lasts and whether it renews
• The charge for loss or damage
• Whether unpaid fees can cause an account hold
• How files are erased between borrowers

Using a borrowed device

Borrowed laptops are usually set up to erase files when they restart or when they are returned. Save your work to your school's cloud storage or a flash drive as you go, rather than to the desktop. Sign out of email, course sites and any browser that offers to remember a password.

A hotspot's data allowance and speed are set by its plan, which may slow down after heavy use. Video lectures use far more data than reading or writing, so download lectures on campus Wi-Fi when you can.

Returning it

Bring back every piece, including the charger, case and any cable, since missing parts are often billed separately. Get a receipt or an emailed confirmation of the return. If a device stops working during the loan, report it right away rather than waiting until the due date.

Before finals, check due dates, because some libraries call term loans back shortly before the term ends. Renewing early is simpler than paying a late charge in the busiest week of the year.