Can I borrow a laptop from the library?

Answered By: CWI Library

Last Updated: Mar 11, 2025 Views: 24

Effective Summer 2025 semester, CWI Library is discontinuing its semester-long laptop loan program. We launched this program in 2020 as a means of supporting students for whom technology was a barrier during the COVID-19 campus closure, and it was not intended nor funded as a long-term program. After five years and over three thousand laptop checkouts, we are returning to our pre-COVID technology loan policies.

What does this mean for students?

Laptops and hotspots will no longer be available for students to check out on a semester basis, but the libraries continue to offer desktop computers for use on campus.

What does this mean for faculty and staff?

Laptops and hotspots will no longer be available for faculty/staff to check out on a semester basis, but the libraries continue to offer desktop computers for use on campus. The libraries will additionally each maintain a classroom set of laptops at each library location that may be checked out for use in classroom instruction.

I am a student and I need a laptop. Where can I get one?

1. On-Campus Computer Access: Desktop computers are available at the library and various locations across our CWI campuses.

Libraries: Library Locations and Hours
Computer Labs: Computer Lab Locations
Tutoring Centers: Tutoring Services Locations

2. Public Libraries: Please reach out to your local branch to ask about the technology available at each location.

Public Library	Technology	Website
Ada Public Libraries 4 Locations	Desktop computers & Wi-Fi B&W, Color Printing for a fee	https://adalib.org/branches_hours/
Boise Public Libraries 5 Locations	Desktop computers & Wi-Fi B&W, Color Printing for a fee Adobe Creative Cloud at Main Branch	https://boisepubliclibrary.org/using-the-library/computer-access-and-printing/
Caldwell Public Library 1 Location	Desktop computers & Wi-Fi B&W, Color Printing for a fee	https://www.caldwellpubliclibrary.org/computers
Meridian Public Libraries 4 Locations	Laptops – in library use, Desktops, & Wi-Fi B&W, Color Printing for a fee	https://www.mld.org/printing
Nampa Public Library 1 Location	Laptops – in library use, Desktops, & Wi-Fi B&W, Color Printing for a fee	https://nampalibrary.org/public-computers-and-wifi/

3. Purchasing Options - CWI Bookstore offers multiple payment options to purchase or finance a laptop.

Credit Card
Financial Aid
Scholarship Funds
Third-Party Payment Plans

Visit the CWI Bookstore for details

4. Buy direct from the company - Check for student discounts / refurbished options

Company		Refurbished Laptops for Purchase
ACER	HP Education	Apple Refurbished	Microsoft Refurbished
Apple	Lenovo	Chromebooksrus
ASUS	Microsoft	Dell Refurbished
Dell		HP Business Outlet