Charging cables now on loan at Marston

Students can now borrow charging cables for their phones and computers at Marston Science Library.

The cables are available on a 4-hour loan with a student’s Gator 1 Card, wrote Amy Buhler, Marston’s engineering librarian, in an email. Marston has six bundles, each containing five chargers, for iPhone and Android devices.

The initiative, which cost about $35, was funded through Student Government and UF libraries, she said.

In April 2013, the library began checking out 16 battery-powered chargers to students due to the low number of outlets in Marston, Buhler said. Students checked these out more than 7,000 times.

After Marston renovated its first floor in Fall 2014 and its second floor in Fall 2015, the library had more outlets for student use, so staff wanted to offer chargers for checkout, she said.

Buhler said about four students have checked out the new charging cables since Monday.

“The appreciation by the students is priceless,” Buhler said. “We’ll see how these are received before investing more.”

Hannah Brusca, a UF graphic design freshman, heard about the new initiative from a friend. Being able to go to Marston means not carrying extra chargers, she said.

“By the time I get to the library, my phone is at 20 percent, and the chargers at Marston will save me the stress of calling (Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol) to return home to get it,” the 18-year-old said.