Student Laptop and Chromebooks Loans
Windows Laptops and Chromebooks are available for students to borrow from self-service lockers. You can borrow one for up to four hours for use on campus, using your student ID card.
Chromebooks are not quite the same as regular PCs, so please take a minute to become familiar with them.
If you have any problems with this procedure please raise a request in the IT Self Service Portal.
What are Chromebooks?
Chromebooks are fast simple laptops designed to be used while connected to the internet.
- Operating system and programs: Chromebooks use Google’s Chrome operating system, which doesn’t have the same programs as Windows or Apple, although some apps have similar functionality, eg Google Docs, Google Sheets.
- To find the apps, navigate to the bottom left and click the circle icon. Some apps have shortcuts in the bottom left hand corner, eg Google Drive.
- Google provides a general overview of their apps.
- If you need more advanced software please use a desktop computer instead.
- Internet: Chromebooks are intended to be used while connected to the internet and most applications and documents live in ‘the cloud’.
- The Chromebooks automatically connect to the University's WiFi. They can only be used on campus.
- If you have something you want to keep, save it to an external storage device (eg USB flash or hard drive) or the cloud.
- Security: Your personal data is deleted when you close the lid or press the Exit session button.
- This ensures users can’t see each other’s files or browsing history, but also means you can’t save anything on the Chromebook.
Who can borrow a Windows Laptop or Chromebook?
London Met students with a valid student card and library record. The service is currently not available to staff, External Readers or visitors.
- Use your student card to activate the self-service lockers.
- You must use the same student card to return the Chromebook.
- The device is checked out to your library account.
- If you have outstanding issues with your library account you need to resolve them before trying to borrow a Chromebook.
- You can check your library account to see when you have to return the device.
- When you return the device to the locker, make sure you reconnect it to the power supply and close the door, otherwise the device will still be checked out on your library account.
- Laptops and Chromebooks can be borrowed for 4 hours. After returning a device you can borrow another if there is one available.
- The use of the devices must adhere to the University’s ICT Acceptable Usage Policy .
- You are responsible for the device during the loan period. The device shouldn’t be left unattended at any time or loaned to anyone else. If there is an issue with the device you should notify a member of IT or Library staff.
Borrowing and Returning Laptops and Chromebooks
How to borrow a device
- Touch screen to begin
- Select Borrow and choose Laptop or Chromebook if available
- Scan student card on card reader
- Accept Terms and Conditions
- The next available Chromebook locker will flash
- Re-scan student card at the locker tower (this is to ensure that the door unlocks only when you are standing in front of the locker)
- Door unlocked
- Remove device
- Shut locker door
How to return a device
- Touch screen to begin
- Select Return
- Scan student card
- Return locker is displayed. You will be sent back to the same locker bay from which you borrowed the device
- Unlock and open the door (no need to re-ID as there is no device in the locker bay)
- Plug in device to charger lead
- (Note: You must plug in the device otherwise it won’t register as having been returned)
- Shut locker door
- (Again, you must shut the door or the device won’t register as having been returned)
Forgot to connect the power cable to the device before closing the locker door?
- Return to the touch screen on the terminal
- Press the Return button
- Open assigned locker
- Plug in the power cable
- Confirm the LED next to the locker shows red
- Shut locker door
Using a Chromebook
- Logging in: use your student email credentials.
- Accessibility settings: select alt+shift+s or click in the bottom right hand corner. For ease of use it is recommended to switch any accessibility settings before logging in.
- Function keys and short cuts: a handy print-out is available - Getting started with Chromebooks .
- Printing: from a browser, visit the London Met Print page and log in to your print account. You can choose to print to a variety of printers on both campuses.
- Shutting down the Chromebook: close the lid or press 'Exit'.
- You can log in again by re-opening the lid and entering email credentials.
- Shut down the Chromebook before returning it to the locker.
- Connecting peripherals: the Chromebooks have HDMI cable, USB cable, MicroSD card Reader, and mini-jack headphone ports. We do not supply HDMI cables or any other peripherals.
- For assistance using the Chromebooks or any technical issues, please raise a request in the IT Self Service Portal.
Locations
Holloway
- Learning Centre: 60 lockers with a mixture of HP Windows Laptops and Chromebooks
Aldgate
- Aldgate Library Student Lounge, 1st floor Calcutta House: 12 lockers with Chromebooks