Library Launches New Laptop Rental Program

Mid-Continent Public Library will start a new pilot project to make 6 MacBook and 6 Chromebook laptops available for in-library use at local branches to improve access to the digital world. This rotating project will start in February at the Grandview [12930 Booth Lane] and Boardwalk [8656 N. Ambassador Drive] Branches. The project aims to discover whether customers prefer the portability of laptops or the desktop computers that are currently available at all of our locations.

The laptops will be deployed at the following branches for a period of one month before moving on to the next set of branches.

• February

Boardwalk and Grandview

• March

Blue Ridge and Liberty

• April

Antioch and Lee’s Summit

• May

Kearney and Red Bridge

Branches were chosen based on location (pairing north and south branches), size (pairing similarly sized branches), and PC usage. All locations also fall within the boundaries of public school districts already participating in 1:1 laptop loan programs for students.

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

Access Your World

Mid-Continent Public Library is the largest library system in the Kansas City metropolitan area, operating 35 libraries and serving over 770,000 people in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. The Library strives to enrich our citizens and communities through expanding access to innovation, information, ideas, and inspiration. MCPL was honored with the 2014 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from IMLS.