[Publib] Downtown Wireless

[Diedre Conkling]

I am confused about how this is a bad thing.  Isn't it helpful to people to have more wireless access?  I know that I have taken full advantage of free wireless in cities that have done this.  If it is done with library support, as well as other city departments or agencies, maybe the library can get good advertising out of it.

Of course, I also believe that we don't have to monitor how people in the parking lot use our wireless access.  In most of the small towns I work with the libraries provide wireless access that does extend a bit beyond the buildings.  It also is on 24 hours a day.  In one of these towns, where cell phone service is not available, having this wireless availability has helped more than been a problem.  It is not unusual to see someone from the electric utility company or the sheriff's department in the parking lot using a laptop.  Also, the many tourists that need a way to communicate are very happy that they can pull up in the parking lot of the library and use the wireless.

Expanding this to several blocks in the city would be a great thing.  We don't have the capacity to do that at the moment but I am going to keep it in the back of my mind to pull out when the time is right.

--
Diedre Conkling
     
  Lincoln County Library District
  P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR  97365
  Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
  http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
  Work:  diedre at beachbooks.org
  Home:  diedrec at charter.net
   

---- Cary Gordon <listuser at chillco.com> wrote: 

=============
Ha, and you thought that patrons came up with the weirdest, most
disturbing complaints...

On Fri, Aug 8, 2008 at 1:51 PM, Hopkins County - Madisonville Public
Library <library at publiclibrary.org> wrote:
> OK – here's a doozy of a question for a Friday afternoon…..
>
>
>
> Are there any libraries that have gone into partnership with their local
> authorities to provide and administer wireless internet access for a
> downtown area? My director had a meeting with the mayor to discuss some
> issues, and he raised the matter of being able to have wireless internet
> access across an area of about 9 square city blocks. Our director wants us
> to be a big part of this, including the management of the system.
>
>
>
> Should I be stocking up on the Rogaine now before I pull my hair out over
> this?
>
>
>
> Terry Caudle
>
> Hopkins County - Madisonville Public Library
>
> library at publiclibrary.org
>
> www.publiclibrary.org
>
>
>
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> Publib mailing list
> Publib at webjunction.org
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>
>



-- 
Cary Gordon
The Cherry Hill Company
http://chillco.com


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