Borrowing laptops FAQ

University of Stirling students and staff can borrow laptops.

No, there is no charge to borrow.

Simply scan your student or staff card (either your physical card or the digital card in the University app) and follow the on-screen instructions to borrow a laptop.

Laptops are available on three loan periods: 4 hours, 8 hours or 4 weeks. After this period, you can return the laptop and borrow another one if available.

No, you are not able to reserve laptops for future use.

Not yet – we are working on this and, we will send out further communications when this is in place.

No, you can’t renew the loan of a laptop, but you can return it and borrow another one if available.

1. Tap the touchscreen.
2. Scan your University card (physical card or digital card in the University app) on the contactless reader.
3. Accept the Terms and Conditions.
4. Tap Return.
5. Select Yes if there were any issues with the laptop being returned; otherwise, select No.
6. The locker number will be displayed and the corresponding locker light will flash.
7. Place the laptop in the locker, connect the charging cable, and ensure the locker door is fully closed and secure. If any part of this step is not completed, the laptop will remain assigned to your account. Once the return has been successfully processed, the indicator light outside the locker will turn red.
8. If you borrowed a laptop charger, please return it to the lending desk in the library. Chargers are not returned via the laptop locker and will remain on your library account until they have been returned and checked in by library staff.

The laptop has to be returned to the locker it was issued from. You will not be able to return the laptop to the wrong location.

As an individual, you can only borrow one laptop at a time, but other people in your group can borrow a laptop using their own card. 

However, if you are using a group study room or one of the study pods in the library you only need one laptop as you can cast the screen of one device onto the bigger screen.

No, there is no maximum number of times that you can borrow a laptop.

The laptops battery charge will last for up to four hours, depending on the type of resource being used. For example, working with large datasets uses battery more quickly.

For 4-hour loans, please return the laptop to its locker and borrow another one with a full charge.

For 8-hour and 4-week loans, you can borrow a charger from the library lending desk to recharge the laptop whilst it is on loan to you.

If you experience a fault with the laptop, please return it to the locker and select Yes when prompted to indicate that there was an issue with the device. This will help ensure the fault is reported and the laptop can be checked before it is loaned again.

Yes, if you need some help with the laptop, the Information Centre staff will be able to help you.

No, the system will randomly allocate a fully charged laptop.

Yes, laptops can be taken anywhere on or off campus. However, you must return the laptop before the end of the loan period to avoid overdue fines.

If you need a laptop for use off campus, we recommend borrowing a 4-week loan laptop, which is designed for longer-term use.

Yes, you can.

The laptops run Windows 11 and include Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.

Additional software can be accessed and installed through AppsAnywhere.

Yes, you can.

Yes. When using the laptop on campus, you will need to connect it to eduroam and then sign in with your University account. If you are off campus, you can connect the laptop to any available Wi‑Fi network and sign in as normal.

Yes. You can print from a laptop using the University print system, provided you are connected to eduroam.

You are responsible for the laptop for the duration of the loan. Replacement costs may be charged up to £760.

If you notice damage to a laptop, please return it to the locker and select Yes when prompted to indicate that there was an issue with the device.

This will help ensure the damage is reported, and the laptop can be checked before it is loaned again.

You are responsible for the laptop for the duration of the loan. Please bring the laptop to the Information Centre. Repair and/or replacement costs may be incurred, we will advise you of what these may be.

Always save to OneDrive, as this autosaves and is accessible from anywhere. Do not save any files to the laptop desktop or hard drive.

No, sorry, the lockers are for laptops only.

Your library record will tell you, or you can ask a member of staff - and we’ll send you a reminder email. 

No, please hang on to it, until the library is open.

Yes, you will be charged 50p per hour.

No, a staff or student card is needed to borrow laptops.

There are 192 in the library, 84 in the study zone and 36 in Pathfoot.