Desktops

Desktop computers are spread throughout the library for public use.

Reference

The Reference department is home to three (3) adult general-use computers, two (2) job center computers, and two (2) microfilm reference computers. The adult general-use computers are available for up to eight (8) hours of use per day. The job center computers are restricted to patrons and guests working on career related tasks, such as training videos, job searches, resume building, and skill builders. The microfilm reference computers are restricted to patrons and guests viewing microfilm rolls ONLY. Computers in the Reference department are lightly filtered through OpenDNS in accordance with CIPA policies.

Adult General Use Computers

These ten (10) general-use computers are located on the lower level. They are restricted to guests and cardholders eighteen (18) years old and older, are available for up to eigth (8) hours of use per day, and are lightly filtered through OpenDNS in accordance with CIPA policies.

All Ages Computers

Six (6) general-use computers, located on the lower level, are available for guests and cardholders of any age to use for up to eight (8) hours per day. These computers are strictly filtered through OpenDNS in accordance with CIPA policies.

Beanstack Kiosk

This specific-use computer, located on the lower level, is restricted to Beanstack for ease of entering patron reading logs.

NEXT Search Catalog Kiosks

These three (3) specific-use computers are restricted to the NEXT Search Catalog for patron use.

The Cave Computers

Three (3) general-use computers are located in The Cave for teen use. These computers ONLY allow teen cardholders to log in. Internet activity is moderately filtered through OpenDNS in accordance with CIPA policies.

Children's Computers

Three (3) special-use computers are located in the Children's Department. These computers do not require a library card to use and are restricted to age appropriate software, MagicDesktop and the resources within it. These computers are strictly filtered through OpenDNS in accordance with CIPA policies and are to be used by children only, please.

Laptops

Through a generous grant with the City of Ottawa, patrons are able to check out Dell Latitude laptops. To borrow a laptop, the patron must have an account with Ottawa Library in good standing, 18 years of age or older, and an Ottawa address. Borrowers are limited to one laptop per account.

Description

Current devices are Dell Inspiron 3510s with an Intel i5 and 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. Devices are running Windows 10 Pro and are loaded with popular software such as Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.

Checkout

Laptops check out for twenty-one (21) days and may be eligible for up to two (2) renewals. Patrons are limited to one (1) laptop at any given time. Laptops are one of the only items that still accrue fines.

Overdue materials and fines

Fines for laptops are ten dollars ($10) per day overdue, until forty-five (45) days overdue, at which time, the patron will be billed the full replacement price of the laptop in addition to the late fees. A single day overdue will block the patron from checking out any additional materials until the item is returned.

Security & Filtering

All patron use desktops utilize DeepFreeze software to secure the safety and privacy of patron information. After a patron logs off, the desktop will restart and reset to a blank state. All patron data, including documents created, browsing history, and files downloaded will be removed and the device will be back at a predefined state.

All internet activity at the library, including WiFi, is filtered through OpenDNS. This allows us to filter out any material that would be harmful to the network or would not meet CIPA guidelines, such as pornographic images.

Internet

High speed internet access is available on premises. Connect to Library Guest or Library Guest w/ Printer Access. All network activity is filtered to protect against harmful traffic. Certain devices, like those in The Cave, are filtered more strictly to ensure we maintain CIPA standards. 

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Wireless Printing

Wireless printing is available on our Lower Level. ​Devices must be connected to our wireless network labeled Library Guest w/ Printer Access. When printing, print to Library Copier (Downstairs). Normal printing rules and pricing applies.​