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When we asked WebJunction members to send us their questions and success stories, we got a lot of questions--but also a lot
of answers. Small libraries from all over are successfully implementing wireless solutions that ease the burden on their
own public access computers and provide a useful service to patrons and out-of-towners. Here's a sampling of their stories. From Soup to Nuts Among the responses we got were thorough accounts of wireless implementations from the several libraries: Creative Financing Some creative ways libraries are finding funding for their wireless efforts: Just the FAQs, Ma'am A number of members sent us links to policies and FAQs regarding public use of wireless access: Tales from the Wireless Frontier Tips, tricks, and helpful hints for making wireless work in libraries. Big MACs John McDonald of the Post Falls (ID) Public Library, describes an authentication solution: "We provide wireless access in
our building, and it seems to be a great success. We have the patron provide their MAC address, which we add into our list
of authorized users on our server. You don't have to have a library card to be added to the list; just read and sign our computer
use policy. We get a large number of summer and/or transient users, and they really seem to appreciate the service. They can't
print anything over the wireless net, but can do anything else. The signal strength for out network is large enough that people
can use it on the patio outside the building, and some have said that they can access it from the parking spaces closest to
the building."
Everybody's Goin' Surfin' Tony Booth of the Danbury (CT) Public Library reports on the increased traffic of sunbathing surfers after their wireless
implementation. "Our main floor access points provide patrons with the ability to get online from outside the library on
the library's plaza. Patrons love that during the spring, summer, and fall months! At any give time, you'll see perhaps 3-10
laptop users surfing in the library, and another few outside on the Plaza. Before we implemented wireless, we didn't get that
many requests for it; but it you build it, they will come….We leave the wireless access up after closing, so that folks can
continue to surf on the Plaza."
And Sheri Szymanski of the Westport (CT) Public Library, tells how wireless computing now gives roving reference staff the
ability to assist patrons in "the stacks, the meeting rooms and even the Library Café!"
A Room Too Far? What to do if your training space is across the building from your internet connection? Go wireless! That's just what Ronnie
Nagy at the Tye Preston Memorial Library in Canyon Lake, TX, did. She writes, We use our laptops to teach Word, Excel, Basic
Computer and Email and InterNet in our meeting room. This room is at the opposite end of the library from the wireless device.
We had trouble with sometimes no connection or a weak signal. We had the wireless device moved closer to this meeting room.
Now the signal is strong and does not drop out.
Those Pleasant Staples Fellows From Susan Glickman, IT/Reference Librarian at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library "a small town library serving a population
of about 8,500" in Williston, VT: "We currently offer wireless to our patrons using a cable modem/wireless router and extender.
It's an open access signal with no authentication. Patrons can use it in the library or outside on our patio, as far as the
signal will reach. The pleasant fellows at our local Staples were extremely helpful in setting up this simple system."
She goes on: "Since there is no login required, we really don't know how many users we have. But if I walk around during
the day I can almost always find at least one laptop user connected. This has been one of the easiest things we've done and
the patrons love it, plus we've gotten new patrons who never would have come to the library before using our facilities."
A (Mildly) Contrarian Point of View Ryan Harper, self-described "tech guy" from the Selkirk & St. Andrews (MB) Regional Library, has set up wireless access for
patrons, but he has said "no" to providing staff with wireless access to backend systems. He'd rather force a miscreant to
use a sledgehammer to knock down the library walls and steal a server to get at patron data. Building-wide coverage and network
speed were also issues. As Ryan put it, " I convinced the board to go with cat5 cables. I lived in the ceiling for a few
days but it is worth it to see everyone get 100mb/sec."
But Ryan is not totally down on wireless computing: "I also came up with the idea to later install a wireless LAN strictly
for those who bring in their own laptops. They could sit down, and get connected to a completely separate low cost server
with it's own high speed modem and wireless router. That way our patron info is as safe as it can be and it adds a new dimension
of user convenience to our little library. It also makes us look good in the eyes of all our local geeks and library lovers.
We would also be the first to do it in our city."
The Music of the Spores At the Madisonville (TN) Public Library, a creeping mold problem proved to be beneficial. When the library had to relocate
into a strip mall storefront with no internet wiring, Director Kim Hicks decided to go wireless: cordless phones and wireless
access points for the staff computers. Public-access wireless is around the corner--with, we hope, some help from WebJunction!
Wireless Unplugged? Caroline Elman, Director of Library Services at the Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino, CA, writes: "Our library (a professional
psychology school with masters and clinical doctoral programs) has had wireless access for about a year. It’s been painless.
Once or twice the cable to the router was disconnected, but our IT staff found the glitch right away."
Card-Carrying Members Computer Lab Manager Don Fogle of the Show Low (AZ) Public Library writes: "We have offered wireless to patrons at this library,
in Show Low, AZ, since last fall. It is getting more and more use from people who have notebook computers. Many of the newer
computers have wifi built in, but if they don't we will loan them a card after installing the software. In several cases,
they have gone on to buy the same card, since the software is already installed."
Don goes on: "We will be moving our library next month. In anticipation of this, we have converted all of our desktop public
access computers to wireless (about 25, including a couple of office systems). This will make the move much easier (no cabling!)."
Watch That Warranty McNeese State University in Louisiana offers both wireless infrastructure and a small number of ciculating laptops with wireless
cards. Mary Jane Bloomquist, Circulation Dept. Head, offers one caveat: make sure warranties on the laptops are current!
Connected Connecticut Alice Pentz of the Avon (CT) Free Library did a poll of libraries in Connecticut that offer wireless services. It's an impressive
list: doesn't it seem that wireless in libraries is an idea whose time has come?
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Documents
| Wireless Success Stories from the WJ Community |
We asked for your input, and boy did we get it! Here's a set of best practices culled from thirty success stories on wireless networking implementation sent in by WebJunction members.
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