Students love the technology at D.H. Hill Library, but maybe they love it a little too much.

High demand for electronics, like iPads, frustrates students because they cannot always check out the devices at the circulation desk when they need them.

“As soon as one is checked in, someone is there to check it out,” said circulation desk employee and freshman in agricultural education Katie Teator.

Colin Reed, a senior in history, tried to borrow a Google Nexus 7 tablet multiple times before spring break, but was unsuccessful because they were all checked out.

“It’s nothing serious,” Reed said. “I just wish they’d have more availability for minor productivity things.”

Reed said he wanted the tablet so he could use it in the car to read during a long road trip instead of having to lug around his heavy laptop.

The renting system at D.H. Hill is troubled for another reason too. 

A glitch in the Tablet Lending website caused it to incorrectly state there were always three first-generation iPads available, which confused many of the programs patrons, Teator said.

After talking with Technician, Director of Learning Commons Services, David Woodbury corrected the problem.

The library allows students to check out Google Nexus 7s and first-generation iPads for up to one week with no renewals. Students can only keep iPad 2s for four hours at a time, but the library does allow one renewal.

The policy is fine, according to Reed, but he said he wishes the library had a greater supply and selection of electronic devices. 

To help with demand, the library got new iPads, iPad Minis and cameras last week and recently received new iPhone 5 chargers, as well, Teator said. 

According to Woodbury, other new items include iPod Touches, Microsoft Surfaces, Kindles and Nexus tablets.

A lot of the new electronics came from Hunt Library in order to “evenly spread” the technology available at the two libraries, Woodbury said.

All five libraries have a total of 125 iPads to lend to students, according to Woodbury. Forty-one are available at D.H. Hill Library for seven-day checkout, and Hunt will soon receive a total of 19 iPads for seven-day checkout, as well.

To help meet demand, D.H. Hill plans to make more of the four-hour iPads available for seven-day checkout, Woodbury said. 

When no iPads are available, patrons must wait 24 hours before checking out another one, Woodbury said.

“People want to keep it, but the renewal system is in place so other people can have it,” Teator said.

D.H. Hill purchases more equipment every year, but the University must now support a new library as well, Woodbury said. 

With the creation of Hunt Library, lending will increase by approximately 30-40 percent, according to Woodbury.

“It’s hard to have the latest, greatest thing all the time for everyone,” Woodbury said.

However, the University’s lending program surpasses that of other universities, Woodbury said.

“We, without question, have the most robust tech lending system than any other campus I have ever interacted with,” Woodbury said. “It really is an amazing program that I hope students are proud of.”

UNC-Chapel Hill only received a few iPads recently, whereas N.C.  State had students standing in line to buy the devices, allowing them to arrive at the University in approximately two days, Woodbury said.

Some students, like junior in psychology Jude Jackson, never experienced problems with the program.

Jackson said he used the service frequently during his freshman year to check out iPods and listen to music.

“It was very useful for my freshman year when I didn’t have quite the money to get an iPod,” Jackson said.

Overall, the program gives priority to students who need electronics for academic or professional purposes, Woodbury said. However, students should request items ahead of time to ensure availability, Woodbury said.

According to Libraries Director of Communication Strategies David Hiscoe, the program lends approximately 200,000 items annually to students.