Tech and Equipment Borrowing Policies

By accepting a tech or equipment item at checkout, the borrower agrees to the policies listed below.

Fill out the online form to request tech gear.

Checking Out Tech and Equipment

  • The UTSA Libraries offer a variety of tech gear and equipment for checkout. These items are available for checkout by current UTSA students, faculty, and staff, with the exception of laptops. Semester loan laptops and 24-hour loan laptops may only be checked out by registered UTSA students.
  • Some of our more popular tech items can be requested in advance using our online request form. Requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and will take priority over in-person requests.
  • No more than one item of each type can be checked out by a borrower at the same time. Duplicate requests from the same borrower will be denied.
  • Some items, including our iClickers and TI-30XS Multiview calculators, are available for semester-long checkout. All other tech items will be limited to 4-hour or 24-hour checkout periods, depending on the item loan policy (please see the Tech Gear Borrowing page).
  • Loan extension and renewal requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will only be considered if the request is made prior to the item’s due date.

Please note: If you have library fines or fees for late or lost items totaling $95 or more, a hold will be placed on your account. This will prohibit you from borrowing, renewing, or requesting Tech Items

Returning Tech and Equipment

  • Equipment is not considered returned unless all parts have been returned, including cables and cases. Staff will inspect the equipment for damage before it is borrowed and when it is returned. Borrowers must report any problems experienced with the equipment during their checkout period.
  • Tech and equipment must be returned to the front desk of the library from which it was borrowed.
  • Tech and equipment may not be returned via book drop. Borrowers will be held responsible for any damages or late fees that result from leaving an item in the book drop.
  • The UTSA Libraries are not responsible for lost data. ALL data is automatically deleted when the equipment is returned.

Borrower Responsibilities

  • The borrower is responsible for the repair or replacement of items that are lost, stolen, or damaged while checked out to them.
  • In case of theft, the borrower should alert the police and library staff immediately. A police report must be sent to the library for us to consider waiving the replacement fee.
  • If a high-value tech or equipment item has been overdue for two weeks, and the borrower has not been responsive to library communication attempts, then the UTSA Campus Police will be notified, and an investigation may be initiated. If applicable, the borrower will also be reported to the UTSA Student Conduct Board.

Laptop Borrowing Overview

Laptops can be checked out for a period of 24 hours from the John Peace Library at Main Campus and the Downtown Library. Additionally, the John Peace Library has a select number of laptops that can be checked out for the duration of a semester.

You must be a registered student to check out any of our laptops. All our laptops are available on a first come, first served basis. If there are no available laptops, students will be placed on a waitlist. If you are ever curious about your position on the waitlist, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 210-458-4574 or circulation@utsa.edu.

Checking Out a Laptop

  • Students are not allowed to check out more than one laptop at a time.
  • 24-hour loan laptops must be checked out in-person. Students will be required to present their UTSA ID card at the time of checkout.

Check out our semester loan laptop policies.

Returning Your Laptop

  • The laptop, laptop charger, and laptop bag must be returned to the library on or before the due date and time. Once a laptop is overdue, the borrower will be fined at a rate of $1 per hour, not to exceed $30.
  • Additionally, overdue laptop chargers accrue fines at a rate of $1 per hour, not to exceed $30.
  • Once a laptop is 72 hours overdue, it will be assumed lost, and your account will be fined accordingly.
  • If a laptop has been overdue for two weeks, and the student has not been responsive to library communication attempts, then the UTSA Campus Police will be notified, and an investigation may be initiated. The student will also be reported to the UTSA Student Conduct Board.
  • Laptops will be inspected for damage upon their return. If a laptop is damaged, lost, or stolen while checked out to a student, the student will be fined up to $1200 for the repair or replacement of that laptop. Additional processing fees may apply.
  • The replacement fee for a laptop charger is $50.

Technical Support

  • Students may not alter a laptop’s operating system as it is currently installed or alter any system settings that may leave the laptop vulnerable to security risks. Students may not knowingly download or install malicious software or code onto the laptop. Doing so will result in the laptop being flagged by University Technology Solutions (UTS), and the student will be required to immediately return the laptop to the library for reimaging.
  • Please contact Tech Cafe (210-458-5555 or techcafe@utsa.edu) to troubleshoot technical issues. Make sure to let them know that the laptop is property of the UTSA Libraries.
  • If a laptop has hardware failure, it must be returned to the library for repairs. Our ability to replace the laptop will depend on our supply.
  • The UTSA Libraries are not liable for any data loss. Any stored data, installed apps, or other information will be erased after the laptop is returned.