Main Menu

All locations remain closed to the public. At the Main Library & Meadows Branch Library, outdoor book returns are open and hold carryout service by appointment is available. Learn about our reopening and other services.

Home / Services / Computers, Internet & Printing / Using a Public Computer

Using a Public Computer

Guests using the computer at the library

The public computers have the following resources.

  • Equipment: CD/DVD drive, USB ports, audio jacks
  • Internet: Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge
  • Productivity: Microsoft Excel 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Word 2016, Access 2016, Acrobat Reader DC
  • Music/Video: VLC Media Player
  • Tools: Calculator, Magnify, Narrator, Notepad, Paint, Snipping Tool, Sticky Notes, Wordpad

There are no public fax machines at any location.

How does reserving a computer work?

  • You may log on to an available machine or reserve one from a self-service station if all computers are taken.
  • Use your current Boulder Public Library card or Computer Use Card to log on to a public computer.
  • Visitors or users without a library card can use a Guest Pass for a one-hour computer session. Limit one per day.
  • A standard computer reservation is 1 hour, with the possibility of a limited number of automatic extensions, subject to demand.
  • 15-Minute Express Computers are available through the reservation system.  These computers are intended for quick tasks like checking e-mail or Internet searches.
  • Users are limited to 240 minutes (4 hours) per day on all of BPL’s public computers.

Guidelines for Using a Computer

  • Users must conform to the policies stated here and to Boulder Public Library’s General Rules and Regulations when using library computers.
  • Boulder Public Library cards & Computer Use cards are non-transferable. Users must use their own library card to reserve a computer. The use of a friend or family member’s library card is not permitted and may result in the suspension of computer privileges.
  • Headphones are required for listening to any resource with an audio component. Users may purchase headphones from the library or use their own.
  • Users may leave an unattended computer “locked” for 10 minutes. If a user does not return within 10 minutes, the computer may be made available to someone else.
  • Two onscreen warnings will appear prior to the end of your computer session. Failure to comply with these warnings will result in the loss of your work.
  • The last computer session of the day ends 15 minutes before the library closes.
  • Boulder Public Library is not responsible for time or data lost due to computer or power failure.
  • Parents and caregivers are expected to monitor their child’s use of the computers and internet and accompany children in need of supervision to ensure their safety and well-being.