Library of Things

All of our things may used within the HCC Library spaces, and some of them may be checked out. Checkout policies vary among the HCC Libraries and should be indicated in the catalog link.

The Libraries have formal and uniform guidelines for Chromebook, Netbook, and various Assistive device checkouts as indicated in the links below.

The HCC libraries have over 1500 Laptops available for current HCC students to check out and use either at home or on campus.

1. HCC current full- and part-time students are eligible to borrow a laptop.
2. Students must have a current HCC Student ID card or a state or national ID card.
3. Only one Chromebook, laptop, or tablet may be on loan at a time. Students may check out a Wi-Fi hotspot with a laptop.
4. Students may request that a laptop be delivered to a specific HCC library or ERC. Laptops will be held for pickup for no more than two days following notification of availability.
5. Laptops are loaned for the student's current term only.
6. Students may renew a laptop or check out a different laptop after the end of the current term, provided that the student is enrolled for the following term. Laptops must be renewed in person and may not be renewed online.
7. Laptops are due at the end of the current term’s enrollment or immediately upon withdrawal from all HCC classes. Log in to your HCC Library account to find the due date. Students will receive a courtesy notice 3 days before the due date.
8. Following a second overdue notice charges for the laptop and power cord will be placed on the student record and the laptop will be disabled.
   • The charge for a laptop will be $724 and a $10 processing fee.
   • The charge for a power cord will be $25 and a $10 processing fee.
9. Laptops must be returned without damage. Repair or replacement costs for damaged laptops will be charged to the borrower. The cost of a replacement screen is $179.00.
10. All work must be saved to an online storage service such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or similar.
11. Do not attempt to reset the device. If you feel that you may have personal information on the laptop, we can assist you with removing it when we check it in.
12. Laptops may not be taken out of the United States.

The borrower is responsible for reporting the loss, damage, or theft of the laptop immediately by completing the Reporting Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Device form. In addition, the borrower should contact the library and return damaged items, if applicable. At that time, library staff and HCC IT will determine any fees.

The HCC libraries have 800 Hotspots available for current HCC students to check out and use either at home or on campus. In compliance with HCC Board Policy CR (LOCAL), these hotspots are provided for College District-related purposes.

1. HCC current full- and part-time students who have no library holds on their records are eligible to borrow.
2. Students must have a current HCC Student ID card or a state or national ID card.
3. Only one Hotspot may be on loan at a time.
4. The hotspots must be plugged in via the USB-C cable to a laptop, Chromebook, or phone in order to provide internet access. They do not broadcast a Wi-Fi network for other devices to connect to. See the user guide for more details.
5. Devices are due at the end of the current semester’s enrollment. In the case of withdrawal from all HCC classes, all HCC library materials, including devices, must be returned immediately. Students who are enrolled for subsequent semesters may bring the device to the library for an additional semester renewal.
6. Devices may not be renewed online. Log in to your HCC Library account to find the due date. You will receive a courtesy notice 1 week before the due date.
7. Approximately 3 days after an overdue notice is sent, a second overdue notice will be sent and a negative service indicator for $250 will be placed on the borrower's record. The hotspot will be disabled at this time.
8. Hotspots must be returned without damage.  Repair or replacement costs for damaged Hotspots will be charged to the borrower. A charge of $10 will be assessed for missing cords and plugs.

The borrower is responsible for reporting the loss, damage, or theft of the hotspot immediately by completing the Reporting Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Device form. In addition, the borrower should contact the library and return damaged items, if applicable. At that time, library staff and HCC IT will determine any fees.

The HCC libraries have over 500 Chromebooks available for current HCC students to check out and use either at home or on campus.

1. HCC current full- and part-time students aged 18 and older are eligible to borrow a Chromebook.
2. Students must have a current HCC Student ID card or a state or national ID card.
3. Only one Chromebook, laptop, or tablet may be on loan at a time. Students may check out a Wi-Fi hotspot with a Chromebook.
4. Students may request that a Chromebook be delivered to a specific HCC library or ERC. Chromebooks will be held for pickup for no more than two days following notification of availability.
5. Chromebooks are loaned for the student's current term only.
6. Students may renew a Chromebook or check out a different Chromebook after the end of the current term, provided that the student is enrolled for the following term. Chromebooks must be renewed in person and may not be renewed online.
7. Chromebooks are due at the end of the current term’s enrollment or immediately upon withdrawal from all HCC classes. Log in to your HCC Library account to find the due date. Students will receive a courtesy notice 3 days before the due date.
8. Following a second overdue notice, charges for the Chromebook and power cord will be placed on the student record and the Chromebook will be disabled.
   • The charge for a Chromebook will be $230 and a $10 processing fee.
   • The charge for a power cord will be $25 and a $10 processing fee.
9. Chromebooks must be returned without damage. Repair or replacement costs for damaged Chromebooks will be charged to the borrower.
10. Chromebooks are not laptops. All work must be saved to an online storage service such as Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or similar.
11. Personal information will be removed from the Chromebook upon logging out.
12. Google @student.hccs.edu accounts will be suspended once students are no longer current.
13. Chromebooks may not be taken out of the United States.

The borrower is responsible for reporting the loss, damage, or theft of the chromebook immediately by completing the Reporting Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Device form. In addition, the borrower should contact the library and return damaged items, if applicable. At that time, library staff and HCC IT will determine any fees.

The HCC libraries have 19  (nineteen) Topaz PHD portable CCTVs available for current HCC students, in good standing, to check out and use either at home or on campus. The CCTVs are also available to check out by day or class time, and then checked back into the library at the end of class or day, based on availability.

• Students must show proof that they are at least 18 years old to borrow a Topaz PHD portable CCTV.
• Students must show a current semester Letter of Accommodation (LOA) signed by an ADA Counselor showing eligibility of need.
• Only full- and part-time HCC students in good standing with the libraries (no overdue materials) may borrow a Topaz PHD portable CCTV.
• Students must have a current Student ID card.
• Devices are due at the end of the current semester’s enrollment. In the case of withdrawal from all HCC classes, all HCC library materials, including devices, must be returned immediately. Students who are enrolled for subsequent semesters may bring the device to the library for an additional semester renewal.
• Devices may not be renewed online. Log in to your HCC Library account.to find the due date. You will receive a courtesy notice 3 days before the due date.
• Students may place hold requests for delivery to a selected HCC library or ERC (Electronic Resource Center).The Topaz PHD portable CCTV will be held for pickup no more than two days following notification of availability.
• Students should not expect courtesy loans of assistive technologies from HCC to serve as their only means of access to course materials or activities.
• Approximately 4 days after an overdue notice is sent, a second overdue notice will be sent and a negative service indicator for replacement value and a $10 processing fee for the Topaz PHD portable CCTV and a $190.00 replacement cost for the power cord, will be placed on the borrower's record.
• Police reports will be filed for Topaz PHD portable CCTV overdue a month or more or reported stolen or missing by borrower.
• Topaz PHD portable CCTV must be returned without damage. Repair or replacement costs for damaged Topaz PHD portable CCTV will be charged to the borrower. A charge of $190.00 will be assessed for missing cords. 
• Borrower accepts responsibility for the repair or replacement of the equipment in the event of loss, theft, or damage. Replacement cost and prices will be based on current market costs.
• Refrain from unauthorized attempts to circumvent the security mechanisms of any college system.
• EQUIPMENT SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED. HCC is not responsible if equipment is stolen or damaged during the borrower's loan period. The borrower is responsible for equipment until it has been returned and checked in by staff.
• Equipment should not be used in locations that might increase the likelihood of damage and should be kept in a padded carrying case or sleeve during transportation.
• Please return equipment to the Library Services location of your choice during open business hours (please contact the office of return to find out their open hours). Please note that we will send due date reminders by email, and will charge late fees, or replacement fees, which could result in financial holds on student accounts.

Guidelines for Use

• Students must show proof that they are at least 18 years old to borrow an ADA laptop.
• Students must show a current semester Letter of Accommodation (LOA) signed by an ADA Counselor showing eligibility of need.
• Only HCC students in good standing with the libraries (no overdue materials) may borrow an ADA laptop.
• Students must have a current Student ID card.
• ADA laptops are available for 3-week checkout periods. However, the ADA laptop loan can be renewed in person for another 3-week period, up to 5 times total per Spring and/or Fall semester.
• ADA laptops must be renewed in person, and students must present the equipment at time of renewal, within three days of the due date.
• Students may place hold requests for delivery to a selected HCC library or ERC (Electronic Resource Center). The ADA laptop will be held for pickup no more than two days following notification of availability.
• Students should not expect courtesy loans of assistive technologies from HCC to serve as their only means of access to course materials or activities.
• Approximately 4 days after an overdue notice is sent, a second overdue notice will be sent and a negative service indicator for the $1800.00 minimum replacement value and a $10 processing fee for the ADA laptop, a $35.00 replacement cost for the power cord, a $30.00 replacement cost for the carry case, and a $45.00 replacement cost for the DVD multi-recorder,will be placed on the borrower's record.
• Police reports will be filed for ADA laptops overdue a month or more or reported stolen or missing by borrower.
• ADA laptops must be returned without damage. Repair or replacement costs for damaged ADA laptop will be charged to the borrower.
• Borrower accepts responsibility for the repair or replacement of the equipment in the event of loss, theft, or damage. Replacement cost and prices will be based on current market costs.
• Refrain from unauthorized attempts to circumvent the security mechanisms of any college system.
• EQUIPMENT SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED. HCC is not responsible if equipment is stolen or damaged during the borrower's loan period. The borrower is responsible for equipment until it has been returned and checked in by staff.
• Equipment should not be used in locations that might increase the likelihood of damage and should be kept in a padded carrying case or sleeve during transportation.
• Please return equipment to the Library Services location of your choice during open business hours (please contact the office of return to find out their open hours). Please note that we will send due date reminders by email, and will charge late fees, or replacement fees, which could result in financial holds on student accounts.

Access to Technology

• Accessible and Adaptive resources are provided for current HCC students with documented eligibility across the college. The standard configuration of computer lab stations includes some accessible and/or adaptive technologies, but additional software (JAWS, ZoomText, etc.) or hardware (large print keyboards, trackball mice, etc.) can be requested through the disAbility Offices or the Assistive Technology Services and placed as needed when appropriate.
• Assistive Technology Services provides classroom-based equipment on an individualized basis through the disAbility Services Counselors and the accommodation process.
• HCC Library Services provide loaner equipment including a variety of assistive technologies. These options are afforded on a first-come first-served basis and with the recommendation of a signed Letter of Accommodation (LOA) from an ADA Counselor.
• HCC Library Services loans equipment, as a courtesy to assist students in the process of discovering which tools and techniques are most effective for them as learners, and as a means to address a short-term or acute need. The loans are made on a term-by-term basis and are not meant to provide ongoing personal home-based use of college-owned equipment.
• Students should not expect courtesy loans to serve as their only means of access to course materials or activities.
• disAbility Services, Library and/or Assistive Technology Services provides training in the use of some technologies, and can help students identify and leverage accessible campus-based computing and community resources.