We wouldn’t be able to do that without connect2. “I stopped at the desk one of the first mornings after implementing connect2, and my student workers team had everything organized – all equipment due for checkout that day was already prepared in advance and put to one side. Previously we had two different service counters, with one providing support for photography and another video, but as connect2 has made it so much easier to manage equipment and space, we’ve merged them into a single one-stop service desk.”Ĭolin’s team really like using the checkout dashboard in connect2: “It’s enabled us to be far more efficient. “Students’ improved accessibility and awareness of resources has increased equipment usage by roughly 40%. We ordered connect2 and it came out of the box looking good and ready to go! The Lorensbergs’ engineers helped us get the software ready for student use and the training was very useful too.” Increasing ROI and efficiencyĬonnect2 has been improving resource utilization at Bates: “We debated whether to have connect2 hosted in the cloud, or installed on premises and decided to go for the hosted option. He provided a demo and was very quick and helpful in answering all our questions, providing lots of useful information on how connect2 works. “I contacted Lorensbergs and was put in touch with an account manager. We really needed to move forward and become more modern in our approach.”Ĭolin heard about connect2 from another college who was already using the software. It was easy for equipment to be lost and impossible to pull numbers on inventory or foot traffic. “There were double, triple booking problems some reservations would go missing. It means that students are walking out of the store with the items they really need – they are much less likely to checkout unsuitable equipment for their assignments.” Choosing connect2īefore connect2, the Digital Media Exchange team relied on a basic Filemaker Pro system which often let them down. “That online component in connect2 makes a big difference before they begin borrowing and using the equipment. And if they still need to talk through their requirements with staff, they are now able to ask much more professional, informed questions.Ībove: Homepage of the connect2 online system at Bates College for Digital Media Exchange resource bookings They would already have reserved items online and so are better organized. “So connect2 takes the pressure off when students are standing there at the desk looking to check out gear. For example, a student considering using a specific DSLR can click on the image of the camera and get all the specifications without leaving connect2. Having equipment specifications and details all in one place has also been very popular. They frequently scroll through our catalog before booking items. “With connect2, students can see all the resources available to them before even setting foot in our facility. With these resources they produce a wide gamut of digital media both in support of the curriculum and for personal projects. They also use connect2 to reserve and use the department’s labs, print shops and 3D printers. Students can borrow a variety of equipment, from basic camcorders to more complex DSLRs and cinema cameras. “It’s an experience similar to using familiar websites such as Amazon.” Students use their usual username and password with single sign-on to access the online catalog, see what they need and easily book it,” explains Colin. They are truly thrilled with the service. “Connect2 has improved student satisfaction by 100%. Connect2 tracks and notifies both users and staff when items are due back and keeps a record of all borrowing activity. Staff can view all reservations in the centralized online system and use a barcode scanner to check items in and out to students. Connect2 at Bates CollegeĬonnect2 is used by all Bates College students to reserve equipment and facilities for different kinds of media production. Colin Kelley, Senior Academic Technology Consultant, is pleased to talk about the success of implementing connect2 at Bates. Both students and staff are delighted with the connect2 system. Since introducing connect2 checkout software to support resource lending, the service has professionalized its operations and image, raised ROI for equipment and cut costs by 60%. The equipment has always been in high demand and the checkout desk sees a lot of activity every day. The Digital Media Exchange at Bates provides a loaner pool of media and academic technology resources for both student and faculty use. With 1,700 undergraduates, the college offers a rigorous and highly personalized education through deep and sustained interactions among students, faculty, and community. Bates College is a private liberal arts institution in Lewiston, Maine.
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