Technology

Library Public Computing Policy
Laptop Loan Policy
AstraZeneca Canada Centre for Information and Technological Literacy: Technology Centre Policy
GPS Loans Policy

Library Public Computing Policy

Infrastructure and Facilities

Learning Commons (2nd Floor)
Express Stations (all Floors)
Amgen Smart Classrooms A/B  (1st Floor)
AstraZeneca Canada Centre for Information and Technological Literacy  (3rd Floor)
Wireless Network
Printing/Copying/Scanning facilities

Library workstations are available for use by holders of valid University of Toronto ID cards.  Guest IDs for use on the library workstations are available upon request from library staff.

Personal belongings do not reserve any computer for your use; personal belongings left unattended for a period exceeding 20 minutes as indicated by the computer timeout, may be moved by Library staff and placed on the floor next to the space or close by.  The space then becomes available for someone else to use.

The availability of computers is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Any account logged on to computers left unattended for more than 20 minutes will be automatically logged off and that computer will be available to the next user.

Users are requested to NOT turn off the machines.Unwanted printouts must be properly placed in the recycling bins provided.

Any persons abusing the equipment will be removed and can be refused future access.

Installation of software or games is not allowed on the Library Public computers.

If there is a problem with the equipment, please notify a member of the Technology Centre / Library staff. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself.

Everyone using these facilities should be aware of and adhere to the policies in the University of Toronto Mississauga Library Code of Conduct, Appropriate Use of Information and Communication Technology, and various other applicable policies. (UofT IT Law, UTM Computing Account Contract).

Laptop Loan Policy

The HMALC has laptops with wireless capability available for short-term loan to U of T students.  The Laptops are available at the Information & Loans desk.  Following is the Laptop Loan Policy for the service.

Eligibility and Fees

Laptops will be available to U of T students for appropriate university-related course work and/or assignment preparation and/or related academic searching.  They are not available for personal use.  There is no cost to students for this service, though fees may be assessed for lost, damaged, or overdue laptops (see the section below Overdue and Lost/Damaged Fines).  The HMALC cannot guarantee availability of laptops.

Borrower Liability

The borrower assumes all responsibility for the laptop confirms acceptance of this responsibility onscreen each time a laptop is used.  Borrowers agree not to install unlicensed software, alter system hardware or software configurations, or otherwise violate the University of Toronto’s Code of Student Conduct (acceptable use of technology policy).  Any files or programs saved on the laptops will
be deleted immediately and repeated offenses may result in the student losing laptop loan privileges.  The HMALC is not responsible for damage to students’ personal disks, for loss of data caused by hardware or battery failure, or for files left on the laptop’s hard drive once it is returned to the Information & Loans desk.

Installed Software

Wireless laptops and netbooks have the following applications installed: Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus (see here), Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Adobe Acrobat reader, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and related web connectivity plug-ins.

Circulation Procedures

Laptops will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot be reserved in advance.  To borrow a laptop, students must present a valid and active TCard at the Information & Loans desk.  Students who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to borrow a laptop – no exceptions.  Staff will inspect the laptop and contents before signing out the laptop to the borrower.  In order to help patrons avoid unnecessary fines, staff will provide upon request a loan receipt with the return time for the laptop.  Laptops must be returned to the Information & Loans desk.

Laptops must not be left unattended at any time.  If students need to leave their study carrel or work area even just to go to the washroom, they must pack the laptop and adaptor back into the laptop carrying case provided, if available. They must take it with them.

Hours of Service

The laptop Loan Service will be available during core hours of operation.  They must be returned 30 minutes before the Information & Loans desk closes.  They cannot be borrowed while the Information & Loans desk is closed.

Loan Periods

The loan period for the laptops is five hours.  At the end of the loan period the laptop must be returned to the Information & Loans desk.  Staff will visually inspect the machine, verify that everything has been returned, and no security tape has been tampered with.  If another student is not waiting for it, and if there is at least one other laptop available, the laptop can be renewed for another five hours.  For laptops loaned less than five hours before the Information & Loans desk closes, the laptop will be due 30 minutes before it closes.  Laptops may not be signed out overnight. 

Overdue and Lost/Damaged Fines

Laptops will be protected with Microsoft System Centre Endpoint Protection, scanned and updated regularly, for viruses and malware.  Unauthorized files or programs will be deleted upon restart or logout by Deepfreeze security software. Any problems with laptops (hardware, software, configuration, etc.) are to be reported to Library Staff immediately for resolution by designated technical staff.

Regular reserve overdue fines ($15.00 for the first hour or part thereof and $15.00 for each hour thereafter, to a maximum of $50.00) will apply for laptops not returned on time. Once the maximum overdue fine of $50.00 has been reached, a lost item replacement cost of $2,025 will be assessed. In addition to the $50.00 in overdue charges and the replacement cost of $2,025, laptop loan privileges will be denied permanently for any patron who keeps a laptop overnight or for an excessively long period of time.

Assistance

For help in configuring wireless services, go to the Computing Services Wireless page. For further assistance, please consult with staff at either the Information & Loans Desk or Research & Information Desk.

AstraZeneca Canada Centre for Information and Technological Literacy: Technology Centre Policy

The AstraZeneca Canada Centre for Information and Technological Literacy (Technology Centre) is located on the 3rd floor of the HMALC and is open during UTM Library hours (University and statutory holidays excepted).

Technology Centre workstations and their licensed software are available for use by all University of Toronto students, staff and faculty with valid identification.

GIS and IT assistance is available on a drop in basis during Tech Centre open hours.  Appointments are not required during open hours but are recommended and will have priority.

The GIS and IT Workstations have specialized software installed and are not therefore, available for general use.   Students not requiring the specialized software are to use the workstations in the Learning Commons (Level 2) or Smart Classrooms (Level 1).

Bottled water only is permitted in the Technology Centre.

Everyone using this facility should be aware of and adhere to the Library Public Computing Infrastructure and Facilities Policy.

GPS Loans Policy

What is GPS?

A GPS or Global Positioning System is a satellite navigation system that allows a person to determine their precise location from almost anywhere on earth.  With this information, you can then add additional value added data to the coordinates information. Once complete you can then plot the coordinates using a Geographic Information System or similar technology, and make a map. 

The HMALC has Global Positioning System (GPS) devices available for short-term loan to University of Toronto students, staff, and faculty.  The GPS devices are available at the Information & Loans desk.  Following is the GPS device Loan Policy for the service.

What GPS devices are available from the U of T Mississauga Library?

There are 3 types of GPS devices available for loan.  For more information on the 3 types of GPS devices available please visit GPS & Geocaching Resources.

Eligibility and Fees

The GPS devices are available to all University of Toronto students, staff and faculty with valid identification for appropriate university-related course work, or research.  There is no cost for this service, though fees may be assessed for lost, damaged or overdue units (see the section below Overdue and Lost/Damaged Fines).  The HMALC cannot guarantee availability of the GPS devices at all times.

Borrower Liability

The borrower assumes all responsibility for the GPS devices (including the contents of the case which includes a USB cable). Borrowers agree not to install other software, tamper with system configurations, or otherwise violate the University of Toronto’s Code of Student Conduct (acceptable use of technology policy). Repeated offenses may result in the user losing their GPS device loan privileges. Any files saved on the GPS devices will be deleted immediately after their return. The HMALC is not responsible for loss of data caused by device or battery failure, or for files left on the device once it is returned to the Information & Loans desk.

Circulation Procedures

GPS devices will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot be reserved in advance.  To borrow a GPS device, students, staff, or faculty must present a valid and active T-Card at the Information & Loans desk.  Patrons who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to borrow a GPS device – no exceptions.  Staff will inspect the GPS device and contents before signing out the GPS device to the borrower.  Staff will provide upon request a loan receipt with the return time for the GPS device.  GPS devices must be returned to the Information & Loans desk.

Hours of Service

The GPS device Loan Service will be available during core hours of operation.  They cannot be borrowed while the Information & Loans desk is closed.

Loan Periods

The loan period for the GPS devices is 24 hours.  At the end of the loan period the GPS device must be returned to the Information & Loans desk.  Staff will visually inspect the device, verify that everything has been returned, and no security tape has been tampered with.  If another student is not waiting for it, and if there are at least two other GPS devices available, the GPS device can be renewed for another 24 hours. 

Overdue and Lost/Damaged Fines

Any problems with the GPS devices (hardware, software, configuration, etc.) are to be reported to Library Staff immediately for resolution by designated technical staff.

Regular reserve overdue fines ($15.00 for every hour or part thereof, to a maximum of $50.00) will apply for GPS devices not returned on time. Once the maximum overdue fine of $50.00 has been reached, a lost item replacement cost of $424 will be assessed. In addition to the $50.00 in overdue charges and the replacement cost of $424, GPS device loan privileges will be denied permanently for any patron who keeps a GPS device for an excessively long period of time.

Assistance

For help in using or downloading GPS device data, go to the GIS/Data HMALC pages http://library.utm.utoronto.ca/datagis/GPS.  For further assistance, please consult with staff at either the Information & Loans Desk or Research & Information Desk.