Please see our Digital Media Help page for information about support for eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, streaming video, magazines, and music.
Computers & Technology FAQs
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General Questions
Computer use is limited to a maximum of 4 hours per day, depending on availability.
Bring a flash drive to save your work.
Computers
Our computers have:
- Internet Access
- Windows 10
- Microsoft Office 2016
- WinWay Resume
Visit our Policies & Guidelines page for our Computer and Wifi Use Agreement. You must accept this agreement to use our computers or wifi.
Free wifi is available from 6 am to 10 pm.
Printing costs $0.10 per side of page.
About wifi:
- Connect to the Library-Public network, and enter this password: pclibrary
- See Wireless Printing Instructions for step-by-step instructions.
- You must configure your device or laptop yourself. We don't offer detailed tech support for wifi.
- Our wifi is open and has no security or anti-virus protections. You should make sure that your device or laptop is protected, as you assume all risks when using the wifi.
- You must abide by our Computer and Wifi Use Agreement when using our wifi. Content is filtered on wifi.
In order to be eligible to check out a Chromebook, patrons must:-Have a Full Service Library Card-Live in Pima County-Have confirmed that the address, and contact information in their account is accurate, at the time of checkout.-Have an account in good standing, with no fees, or be actively working to resolve fees through partial payment, or material replacement.- Chromebooks are checked out with a library card for eight (8) weeks with one renewal
- You can request a Chromebook by filling out the Request Form
- Chromebooks can be delivered to any library for pick up. Most requests take about 1-to-2 weeks to arrive.
- For questions about our Chromebooks, please call 520-594-5626 or email hotspots.library@pima.gov
Request a laptop
Read more and fill out a request for a Chromebook here
Troubleshooting
Why isn't my Chromebook working?
Check the Google Chromebook Troubleshooting page to find answers for commonly asked questions.
Leave a message at (520) 594-5626 or send us an email.
Pima County Public Library loans hotspots.
PCPL has acquired 400 Kajeet SmartSpots to provide internet access.
Loan Rules and Circulation
- The hotspots are filtered to allow access to educational websites. Sites like social media, e-commerce, or streaming services are blocked.
- These do not have the capacity to stream content.
- They are checked out with a library card for eight (8) weeks with one renewal
- Hotspots are requested by filling out the Hotspot Request Form on the Library website.
- Hotspots can be delivered to any library for pick up. Most requests take about 1-to-2 weeks to arrive.
- Hotspots will not be sent to Pick-up Lockers.
- Hotspots should be returned at a library service desk during open hours, at any library location.
- Hotspots should not be returned through the book drop.
- For questions about our hotspots, please call 520-594-5626 or email hotspots.library@pima.gov
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to check out a hotspot, patrons must:- Be a student of any age, grade level, or program.
- Have a Full Service Library Card
- Live in Pima County
- Have confirmed that the address and contact information in their account is accurate at the time of checkout.
- Have an account in good standing, with no fees, or be actively working to resolve fees through partial payment, or material replacement.
Accounts that have been sent to collections are not eligible until they have been paid in full.
Request a hotspot
Read more and fill out a request for a hotspot here
Troubleshooting
Why isn't my hotspot working?
Check the device status page on this website, opens a new window. Input the phone number, ESN, MEID, or IMEI number of the hotspot device—you can find these numbers in the display menu on the hotspot. (Directions on how to check the status of the device are included in the hotspot case.)
If your hotspot device status is “active” and you are having problems connecting, restart your computer, tablet, phone, or other device AND the personal hotspot. Restarting your devices will refresh the connection and may solve minor glitches in hotspot connectivity.
If you have multiple students trying to use one hotspot, your internet service will not work properly. Please check out one hotspot for each student. Each student can check out one (1) hotspot on his or her library card.
If your status is “inactive,” leave a message for the WiFi Hotspots Team at (520) 594-5626 or send us an email.
What if that doesn’t solve the problem?
These hotspots work through the Verizon cell towers. If there is no Verizon coverage in your area, or if there is a temporary outage in your area affecting Verizon cell phone service, you will not be able to connect to the Internet with your hotspot.
You can also check for additional service interruptions from Kajeet at: https://status.kajeet.net/
Computers for public use are on a dedicated network with security protocols in place:
- All computers have anti-virus software.
- Each computer has software that wipes all personal and saved information when the computer is restarted between each session.
- The network is secured with filter software that impedes access to hacking websites and peer-to-peer networks.
Printing costs 10¢ per printed side for color or black and white printing. Our printers take coins or $1 bills.
If you have a PDF or JPG file on a flash drive, you can print those directly from the copy machine for 10¢ per printed side.
See also: Wifi and Wireless Printing
Yes. In 2007, a community advisory group, the Pima County Library Advisory Board and the Pima County Board of Supervisors, all agreed that age-specific filtering was appropriate for computers used by county residents in the public library system.
How the Filtering System Works
The filtering system filters sites based on the age of the user. The following categories of web sites are filtered:Children (ages 0–12) and Wifi
- Adult content, including child pornography, explicit art, obscene/tasteless. pornography/adult content
- Peer-to-peer file sharing
- Illegal or questionable
- Sites determined by Library Administration
Teens (ages 13-17)
- Adult content, including child pornography, explicit art, obscene/tasteless. pornography/adult content
- Peer-to-peer file sharing
- Sites determined by Library Administration
Adults (ages 18 and up)
- Adult content, including child pornography, explicit art, obscene/tasteless. pornography/adult content
- Sites determined by Library Administration
This filtering protects children from inappropriate sites, and likewise filtering at the teen level uses certain criteria deemed acceptable for that age group.
When adults using library computers attempt to access a questionable site (such as sites that are categorized as explicit art, obscene/tasteless, pornography) they will first see a screen advising them of state and federal cautions regarding viewing of questionable websites in public use areas. Adults then can choose to proceed or cancel their website choice.
Pima County Public Library strives to protect all customers' freedom of access to information. We believe this filtering process provides a solid modicum both of protection for young people and of the adult's right to view materials of their choice.
Requests to Unblock a Website
Requests to unblock a website that is currently filtered by the system can be submitted using the Contact Us form.Filtering and Arizona State Law
Below are the Arizona Revised Statutes that address unfiltered Internet access and its uses when children are present. Engaging in activities that are harmful to minors, as defined in Arizona Revised Statutes, will not be allowed. The viewing of child pornography or obscenity is illegal and will not be allowed.Arizona Revised Statutes:
Visit our Policies & Guidelines page for our Computer and Wifi Use Agreement. You must accept this agreement to use our computers or wifi.
We have multifunctional copy machines.
Copying
- Copies are $0.10 per side of page (a two-sided copy is 20 cents).
Scanning
- Scanning is free.
- The copy machine can scan documents into JPG or PDF formats in color or black and white.
- You must save your document to a flash drive.
- Documents can't be emailed from the copy machine, but you can use your flash drive with one of our library computers to send the document as an email attachment.
Faxing
- You can also send a fax from the copy machine.
- Outgoing faxes are $1.00 per page, local or $1.50 per page, long distance.
- Incoming faxes are .50 per page.
- If you are using the library to receive a fax, staff must retrieve it for you. We'll hold it for only 10 days for you to pick up.
- International long distance faxing is not available.
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Accessibility & Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology
We have assistive technology for the visually impaired, including screen magnifiers, large type collections and keyboards, and eBooks. Read about our assistive technology resources.
Collections
We have a small braille collection and textured books, audiobooks on CD and to download, closed captioned DVDs, Tumblebooks, which are digital books for children and teens, and Freegal, which allows you to download or stream music for free.
Services & Home Delivery
If you're visiting a library for an event, you'll find that we have Induction Loop Technology in some of our meeting rooms.
Home delivery of large type books and audiobooks is available for eligible people through Books by Mail.
Arizona Talking Book Library
The Arizona Talking Book Library provides free audio book delivery/downloadable services to the visually impaired, physically limited, and print disabled throughout the state; any person who cannot read standard print, hold a book, or turn pages is eligible for this free service.
Each person has direct access to their own personal Arizona Talking Book librarian to ensure they receive their requested materials (which can include an audio player and headphones, free of charge.) The Arizona Talking Book Library features a collection of downloadable audio books, magazines, and Braille provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. Apply through the Arizona Talking Book Library for access to the Braille and Audio Reading Download service.
We can provide auxiliary aids and services including ASL interpretation at library-sponsored programs upon request to individuals with disabilities. Please contact the library hosting the program directly with your request, naming the program, date, and time.
Request accommodation as early as possible, but at least four (4) business days in advance. If you have requested ASL interpretation and find you cannot attend, please cancel your request promptly.
At All Libraries
Windows Ease of Access
All libraries have Windows 10’s built-in accessibility software, including Narrator, Dictation, and Magnifier.
OverDrive eBooks and Audiobooks
At Some Libraries
SmartLux Digital Hand-held Electronic Magnifier
- SmartLux Instructions
- Available at these libraries:
At Joel D. Valdez Main Library
- Braille embosser / printer with software to translate text to Braille
- Video magnifier to enlarge the text of printed documents and books
- Scanner to translate documents into Braille
Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD)
Available from the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records.
Our librarians have created a list of community resources to help you find the help you need. Please see Learning to Use Assistive Technology in Pima County.
The follow libraries' meeting rooms have Induction Loop technology, which transmits sound directly into a hearing aid's built-in wireless T-coil receiver:
- Dusenberry-River Library
- Eckstrom-Columbus Library
- Himmel Park Library
- Joel D. Valdez Main Library
- Joyner-Green Valley Library
- Kirk-Bear Canyon Library
- Murphy-Wilmot Library
- Nanini Library
- Richard Elías-Mission Library
- Sahuarita Library
- Sam Lena-South Tucson Library
- Santa Rosa Library
- W. Anne Gibson-Esmond Station Library
- Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library
- Woods Memorial Library