Borrowing
Only Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Institute of Music students, faculty and staff may borrow equipment kits.
Our library-use only laptops are available for check-out to Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Institute of Music students, faculty and staff, and University Hospitals/ Cleveland Clinic Residents.
Equipment kits will always be borrowed at and returned to the Service Center found on the 1st floor of Kelvin Smith Library.
No—There is no initial charge for Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Institute of Music students, faculty and staff to borrow equipment kits. All CWRU and CIM borrowers need to provide to check out kits are their ID card. Kits are loaned for 5 days and if kits are returned within that time frame and without damage or missing items, no fines will accrue.
Yes—if your kit's loan exceeds the 5 day period, overdue fines will accrue on your library account at $5 per day. Overdue fines will max out at $30 and, if the equipment kit is still not returned to the library, your library account will be billed for the cost of the equipment kit which varies from kit to kit.
Yes—If any kit item is indefinitely lost or damaged upon return of equipment kit, Service Center staff will require you to fill out a "Damages and Definitely Missing Equipment Form." Upon the form's completion, Freedman Center Staff will work on the kit and contact you with the replacement costs within a few business days.
All loanable equipment kits may be borrowed for 5 days. There are no due dates on the weekends or when the library is officially closed but be mindful of semester breaks. Just because classes are on break doesn't mean the library is.
To know when your equipment kit is due, please login to your library account from our library main page or call us at the Service Center (216)-368-3506.
Equipment kits are never due on the weekends or when the library is closed. However, be mindful of semester breaks. Just because classes are on break doesn't mean the library is.
To know when your equipment kit is due, please login to your library account from our library main page or call us at the Service Center (216)-368-3506.
No. We do not allow renewals of equipment kits because we have a small technology collection to service a large academic community.
No. Like renewals for equipment kits, we do not allow returns and immediate check-outs because we have a small loanable collection. If you'd like to checkout the kit again, you must wait 24 hours before doing so.
Only complete equipment kits may be checked out.
NO! While our equipment kits are in bags, they cannot stop the weight of several heavy books from damaging fragile lens, microphone cages or plastic pieces. If equipment kits are found in the book drops and damage ensues because of that, Service Staff will proceed with the Damages or Missing Equipment procedure.
You always return equipment kits to the Service Center during operation hours. Do not leave the kit on the counter and leave. You must physically return the kit to a Service Center staff member and wait until they check the kit.
Be aware of your 5 day loan period. If you attempt to return the kit on the 5th day and realize the Service Center is closed, you will have to return the kit the following day and accrue a $5 fine for the kit being late.
We highly discourage borrowing patrons to check out kits for their family or friends. If your family member or friend is a CWRU or CIM student, faculty or staff, they can check out the kit themselves using their ID card.
As the borrowing patron, you are held responsible for any overdue, billed, damages, or missing equipment fines that your family or friend has accrued. Meaning, any fines on your account above $15 will block your borrowing privileges for not just equipment kits but other CWRU materials, OhioLink books requested or ready to be picked up, and requesting Interlibrary loans as well.
Technology Support
Each equipment kit has a corresponding user guide available for users to refer to when questions arise. Most guides will include manufacturer's user manuals and tutorials available on YouTube.
Due to the amount of equipment we loan and the length of time it would take for dedicated staff to learn how to use that equipment, we cannot provide instruction upon checkout. Service Center staff will refer users to the user guides that contain all relevant information pertaining to use and lending policies. Additionally, Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship staff do not provide that instructional assistance for loanable equipment kits.
Unlike loanable equipment found in the Tech Table, laptops from our kiosk are supported by University Technologies or U[Tech]. For any issues that arise with the loaned laptop, please bring the laptop to the front desk and Service Center staff will contact U[Tech].
Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship doesn't fund or support this loaned technology.
Overdue Fines And Billed Equipment
Equipment kits have a loaning period of 5 days. If your kit's loan exceeded the 5 day loaning period before its return, your library account will begin to accrue $5 every day the kit is over due. Overdue fines will max out at $30.
If your library account has been billed for the equipment kit, that means your loan has exceeded the 5 day loaning period and has met the $30 overdue max. Your account will automatically bill the kit's replacement cost.
Returning the kit to the Service Center will remove the billed cost from your library account but the overdue fines will remain. Service Center staff will not waive these fines.
We highly discourage letting family or friends return equipment kits. You as the borrowing patron are responsible for the kit and family or friends may not be able to return the kits before their due dates and cause your account to accrue fines.
Patrons are responsible to return the equipment on time and in the state the kit was in when they originally checked it out. If overdue, billed, missing or damage fines appear on your account, we will not waive them.
Damages Or Missing Equipment
Bring your kit to the Service Center, and explain what has been lost. Our Service Center staff will go through the kit and confirm what you've stated, and take you through the "Damages and Definitely Missing Equipment" process. This includes reading and acknowledging the following:
- If borrowed equipment is missing, the signer must find equipment or their account will be billed for the replacement costs.
- If borrowed equipment is damaged, the signer's account will be billed for the replacement costs.
- the signer agrees not to purchase equipment to replace what is missing or damaged.
Payment, if applicable, will NOT happen at this time. Freedman Center staff will contact you in a few business days with the replacement cost information.
Bring your kit to the Service Center, and explain what has been damaged. Our Service Center staff will go through the kit and confirm what you've stated, and take you through the "Damages and Definitely Missing Equipment" process. This includes reading and acknowledging the following:
- If borrowed equipment is missing, the signer must find equipment or their account will be billed for the replacement costs.
- If borrowed equipment is damaged, the signer's account will be billed for the replacement costs.
- the signer agrees not to purchase equipment to replace what is missing or damaged.
Payment, if applicable, will NOT happen at this time. Freedman Center staff will contact you in a few business days with the replacement cost information.
Funding
An endowment established by Samuel B. and Marian K. Freedman partially supports the purchase and maintenance of our loanable equipment kits. For more information about the Freedman Center, please visit the Freedman Center landing page or look through their Frequently Asked Questions.
Items that are not included in this funding support are the laptops found in our 1st floor Laptop Kiosk and the Graphing Calculators. Both are supported and funded by University Technologies or U[Tech].