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Welcome, Premium User!

As a premium user, you have access to enhanced features and specialized equipment in the SWL Library Management System. This guide covers your exclusive privileges and how to maximize them.

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Premium User Privileges

Premium users enjoy several advantages over standard student accounts:

Specialized Equipment

Access to advanced computing equipment and specialized accessories restricted from general users

Multiple Laptops

Request multiple laptop units simultaneously for group projects or special needs

Higher Limits

Increased borrowing limits for accessories and equipment

Priority Access

Access to exclusive catalog items in the ‘computo’ category

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Getting Started

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Account Setup

Premium accounts are created by system administrators. If you need premium access:
1

Request Premium Status

Contact a system administrator explaining your need for premium access
2

Account Upgrade

Administrator will upgrade your existing account or create a new premium account
3

Login

Use your document ID and password at /auth/login
4

Access Premium Dashboard

You’ll be redirected to /dashboard with premium features enabled

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Requesting Specialized Equipment

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Requesting Laptops (Enhanced)

Premium users can request multiple laptop units simultaneously:
1

Navigate to Laptop Request

Go to /request/laptop from your dashboard
2

Select Computing Equipment

Browse the full catalog including specialized computing equipment
3

Specify Quantity

Premium feature: Enter the number of units needed (unlike students who are limited to 1)
4

Choose Environment

Select usage location:
  • Interno: Library use only
  • Externo: External/take-home use
5

Submit Request

Send for librarian approval
Multiple Unit Requests: When requesting multiple laptops, the system reserves all units simultaneously. If insufficient units are available, the entire request will fail.

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Accessing Specialized Accessories

Premium users have access to specialized computing accessories denied to regular students:
1

Go to Accessory Request

Navigate to /request/accessory
2

View Full Catalog

You’ll see all available accessories including:
  • Specialized computing peripherals
  • Advanced technical equipment
  • General accessories
3

Select Items and Quantity

Choose your items and specify quantity needed
4

Submit

Request will go to librarian for approval
Premium users still have a limit of 2 simultaneous accessory requests. Plan your requests accordingly.

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Group Loan Management

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Managing Multiple Items

Premium users often manage multiple active loans simultaneously: Dashboard Organization:
  • All loans are displayed in chronological order (newest first)
  • Each loan shows:
    • Item type and name
    • Request date and due date
    • Current status
    • Environment (interno/externo)
    • Penalty amount (if applicable)
Status Types:
  • Pendiente: Awaiting approval
  • Activo: Active loan in your possession
  • Atrasado: Overdue - immediate action required
  • Devuelto: Successfully returned
  • Rechazado: Request denied

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Group Projects and Multiple Laptops

When requesting equipment for group work:
1

Calculate Needs

Determine exactly how many units your team requires
2

Check Availability

Verify sufficient units are available in the catalog before requesting
3

Submit Single Request

Request all units in one transaction - they’ll be reserved together
4

Coordinate Pickup

After approval, coordinate with your team to pick up all units from the library desk
5

Track Due Dates

All units from the same request share the same due date - plan group returns accordingly
Pro Tip: For large group projects, request equipment 2-3 days in advance to ensure approval and availability.

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Book Requests

Premium users request books the same way as students:
1

Browse Books

Navigate to /request/book
2

Select Book

Choose from available titles in the catalog
3

Submit and Pickup

After approval, collect the book from the library desk
Book loans have a 15-day due date and are subject to daily penalties if returned late (default: $5,000 COP/day).

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Understanding Your Dashboard

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Loan Overview

Your premium dashboard at /dashboard provides:
  • Complete loan history: All past and current requests
  • Status filtering: Quickly find pending, active, or overdue items
  • Due date tracking: Visual indicators for upcoming due dates
  • Penalty tracking: Real-time calculation of overdue fees for books

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Monitoring Active Loans

Filter your dashboard to see only ‘activo’ status loans - these are items currently in your possession.
Due dates are displayed in Colombia time (UTC-5). Items approaching due dates should be prioritized for return.
For book loans, the penalty amount updates daily if overdue. Return books promptly to minimize fees.
If a request is rejected, check the observation field for the librarian’s reason.

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Best Practices for Premium Users

When requesting multiple units, submit them in a single request rather than multiple separate requests for better tracking.
If you need equipment for extended periods, communicate with the librarian before the due date to request extensions.
When returning multiple units from the same request, return them all together to simplify processing.
Computing equipment often has limited availability. Request as soon as you know you’ll need it.
When requesting ‘externo’ use, ensure you can safely transport and secure the equipment off-campus.
When borrowing for groups, the premium user who requested the items is ultimately responsible for their return.

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Fast Loan Feature Access

Premium users may be granted access to fast loan features:
  • When using fast loan (/fast_loan), premium users see specialized equipment catalogs
  • General category items are excluded from premium fast loans
  • Same quantity and environment rules apply
Fast loan is typically used by librarians for in-person requests, but premium users may have access for special scenarios.

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Profile Management

Access your profile at /profile to:
  • View all personal information
  • Review complete loan history across all requests
  • Check premium status and privileges
  • See contact information
To modify profile details (email, phone, role), contact a system administrator. Users cannot self-edit these fields.

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Upgrading to Premium: What Changes?

When upgrading from student to premium:
1

Role Change

Administrator updates your role from ‘cliente’ to ‘premium’
2

Enhanced Access

Immediately gain access to:
  • Specialized computing equipment
  • Multi-unit laptop requests
  • Full accessory catalog
3

Same Limits Apply

Note that some limits remain:
  • Cannot have duplicate active laptop requests
  • Maximum 2 simultaneous accessories (but from full catalog)
  • Standard due dates (15 days)

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Frequently Asked Questions

No, the system enforces a maximum of 2 simultaneous accessory requests for all users, including premium accounts. However, premium users can access specialized accessories unavailable to students.
While premium users can request multiple laptop units in a single request, you cannot have overlapping active laptop requests. Quantity is limited by availability.
Premium users in fast loan see only specialized/computing equipment. General items are filtered out to streamline the interface.
No, loans are tied to the requesting user. The borrower must return items personally to the library desk.
No, all users have the same 15-day standard loan period. Extensions must be requested from the librarian before the due date.

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Need Help?

Technical Support

Contact system administrators for account issues or technical problems

Loan Support

Visit the library desk or contact librarians for request approvals and extensions
You’re ready to leverage all premium features in the SWL Library Management System!