Changed arrangements for loan equipment

Loans of audiovisual, media and portable computer equipment are now being handled by the Curriculum Resources Centre.

The loan of mini-disk recorders, digital video and still cameras, and staff laptops is now being handled by the CRC in Building 5. Permissions to borrow equipment are determined by discussion with the Media Facilities Users Group (contact MFUG through the Coordinator), which advises the CRC on who can borrow what, at what time of the semester and for what period. The CRC has done an excellent job setting up the system and apart from some workload issues the system appears to be working well. TSU Loans Officer still has responsibility for management (including loans) of the equipment used by high-end television and journalism courses.

During the refurbishments in Building 9, the TSU Loans Officer was relocated from his dungeon to the Server Room. While this new location is not ideal, it provides better amenity with regard to the Loans Officer's asset-management responsibilities, and with the relocation of the loans to the CRC the requirement to be located downstairs has been diminished. As a trial, the Loans Officer will remain located upstairs, with attendance in the NewsBoss, Television and Audio studio as required. Bookings for the equipment still managed by the Loans Officer will be made in the New Media Lab, where editing facilities for the projects are booked as well. Phones will be installed outside a number of rooms to facilitate contact with the TSU in the event of access being required out of booked times. Speed dialling on the phones will provide access to the Loans Officer, other Media staff, or the TSU helpdesk, and it is anticipated that the calls will be handled effectively between 8am and 6pm weeks days during teaching periods.