« Scotland's prison population | Main | Microsoft PowerPoint »
November 29, 2004
WiFi in libraries
The British Library now has 802.11 WiFi, wireless internet access. WiFi has been around since 1999, so the British Library is hardly blazing any trails, but this is progress of a kind.
Previously library users had to leave and go to a nearby internet cafe if they wish to google or send email. Now they can stay at their desks working with internet as well as library resources.
The British Library are making ridiculous charges: GBP 4.50 for an hour, or 35 for a monthly pass for using wireless. In fact wireless is very cheap to install. One wireless access point costing about GBP 50 has a range of about 150 feet and can be used by up to 50 computers.
I visited the Callander library yesterday. I think they had three PCs with internet access. They were all being used and there was a booking list. Apparently many local people are coming in to the library when they are having problems connecting at home. The library should get WiFi and encourage people to bring laptops in. This will be ten or twenty times cheaper than buying a new computer and enable many more people to use their internet connection.
We need WiFi in all public libraries - and many other public areas!
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4020241.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at November 29, 2004 12:15 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.skakagrall.com/cgi-bin/MT/mt-tb.cgi/165