Laptop Loans will be available to all students across all 3 campuses.

Colchester: Available, can be borrowed from ground floor Library Reading Room. Please note that if you intend to borrow a laptop to use in the library, you will need to pre book a study space, otherwise laptops can be used elsewhere on campus.

Reserve a Laptop at Colchester

Give feedback on the new Colchester laptop loans. 

Southend: Information Hub

Loughton: Available from the main library. Please note that if you intend to borrow a laptop to use in the library, you will need to pre book a study space, otherwise laptops can be used elsewhere on campus.

You can borrow up to one laptop at a time, and you can borrow a laptop:

Colchester and Southend: For up to 3 hours for free. If you do not return the laptop after 3 hours you will be charged £1 per hour or part of an hour, until it is returned.

Loughton: Until library closing time (Loughton laptops come with a laptop charger to keep you going)

To borrow a laptop, you need your Essex Student card.

You can also check laptop availability before you arrive:

Colchester Availability

Southend Availability

Loughton Availability

1. Go to the laptop kiosk and choose Borrow using the touch screen.

2. Scan your student card on the card reader below.

3. Scan your student card on the flashing tower.

4. Take the laptop.

You now have the laptop for 3 hours.

When taking out a laptop, you can use the Accessible Locker button.

Taking out a laptop is done in the same way, except you choose Accessible Locker on the touch screen.

The kiosk will then give you a laptop from the middle lockers, making it easier to take the laptop out and return it.

For more information, please talk to the helpdesk.

1. Go to the laptop kiosk and choose Return using the touch screen.

2. Scan your student card on the reader below.

3. Return your laptop to the now open locker.

4. Plug the charging cable into the laptop.

5. Close the locker door.

You've now returned the laptop

Note: If you don't plug the laptop back in, it will not be taken off of your account and you may be charged if you don't return it properly. If you accidentally close the locker without plugging it in, you can do this process again to open the locker door and return the laptop.

1. Go to the laptop kiosk and choose Print Return Receipt using the touch screen.

2. Scan your student card on the reader below.

It will then print the details of the last laptop you have returned.