The University of California, Riverside (UCR) libraries — the Tomás Rivera and Orbach Science Libraries — plan to officially begin their plans of phasing out their desktop PCs and replacing them with “new, lightweight laptops.” These efforts have been in motion since 2021, as reported by a statement released by UCR’s Department of Statistics.
Alternatives to the desktop computers include the laptop check-out kiosks that can be found throughout campus, with each housing 30 laptops. These kiosks house a variety of laptop brands available, which include “Apple MacBook Pros, Dell Latitudes and Lenovo Thinkpads.” The checkout kiosks can be found on the first floor of both campus libraries, the Student Success Center (SSC) and the Highlander Union Building (HUB).
These kiosks are available to students at no additional cost, as they are funded through the Student Technology Fee (STF). The kiosks allow students to check out laptops for up to 24-hours before returning them. When they are returned, “students’ personal information and activity are automatically erased,” ready for other students to use them. However, students are fined $5 for every hour the laptop is late from its return time.
This service allows students who do not own their own electronic devices, such as laptops or tablets, have access to their online assignments. Also, it offers an alternative to those who are experiencing technical difficulties with their own personal devices.
The libraries have also released a report with new updates that are both already in motion and are coming soon, following student participation in the “Love It | Fix It | Add It” campaign that occurred this March. This campaign asked students to provide comments on what they would like to see implemented, fixed or removed in the libraries in an effort to ensure the libraries are “creating the best possible environment for your academic success.”
Despite the libraries’ intentions of transitioning out of having a leading majority of desktop computers, the libraries appear to plan to keep some of their desktop computers, while simultaneously improving them by “replacing desktop computers on the first floors with new ones, which will include brand-new keyboards.”
Although there has been an increase in personal ownership of technology equipment, leading to an overall drop in demand for desktop computers at both the university and national levels, the California Institute of Technology found that “survey results indicated that students do find having access to desktop computers is still relevant for their research and personal needs.”
