Libraries pushing for Wi-Fi access
News of Delaware County
Volume 72, Number 41
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Haverford, UD Sellers libraries now offer wireless Internet access.
By Dan Russo
STAFF WRITER
In the last few months, “hot spots” have been popping up at local libraries in Delaware County. That’s tech industry talk for wireless internet capabilities. Six out of the counties 28 libraries now offer internet access to people who bring in laptops. Two of the biggest, Haverford and Upper Darby Sellers Libraries, just finished installing the equipment last month. Smaller libraries, however, are still searching for ways to fit the Initiative into tight budgets.
Wi-Fi in Upper Darby
Library director Nancy Hallowell demonstrated recently how patrons in Upper Darby must get a password at the desk before logging onto the Internet services. “There’s still stuff in the books that you won’t get online, “said Hallowell as she stood next to one of the devices which shoots out a signal in one part of the library. Upper Darby is using parts of its $1.2 million yearly budget to upgrade its technological repertoire at its three branches. Aside from wireless, it also now offers bestselling books online. Through donations from the library’s “friends” group, Sellers was able to find about $5,000 to institute the wireless program. Hallowell says so far usage has been slowly increasing as the word gets out. She hopes that the systems Primos branch will be the next to get wireless. Although the library imposes a one-hour daily limit on its public computers, wireless access is unlimited, although patrons will have to re-enter their passwords at times.
Haverford logs on
Haverford Librarian Adeline Cianella was hearing about wireless long before five access points were installed this month, also at a cost of around $5,000. She says it started becoming as topic of interest in the last year and a half. “The surrounding counties had been ahead of us in providing services, “said Cianella. “We found a lot of frustration from customers. One of the reasons we’re providing the service is to hold and maintain the philosophy of public libraries. It’s part of a basic democratic society’s services.” Since installing wireless on Aug. 18, the library has seen an increase in laptop users and less congestion at its public computers. Most of the county’s libraries with wireless contracted with Spidernet Technical Consulting. The Ardmore based firm had to analyze the layout of each library before beginning. “We had to install some filters, “said CEO Anthony Licate. Child safety law requires libraries to limit access to pornographic websites, but otherwise users will have the same choices they would if they were at home, according to Licate.
Darby: holding on in a tech age
The oldest public library in the nation, Darby Free Library, doesn’t have wireless, but librarian Sue Shah is researching the possibility of grants. Established in 1743, the privately run library is experiencing budgetary difficulties, but still provides an essential technological service to the surrounding community. “We are in a pressing need for technology, “said Eshbach. “We’re not in an area here where everyone owns computers. We have people waiting an hour and a half to get onto the computers. Darby has three public computers obtained through a Bill Gates grant program. Providing a place for students to type papers in a world where many teachers expect computer access at home is an essential mission for the library. Of the 10,206 customers the library served in 2006, 4,543 came to use the computers. With $73,675 in annual costs and $55,625 in annual income last year, the library is struggling in its mission, relying on funds from its savings and donations. About $17,000 each year comes from local government, according to Eshbach. In a tech saturated society, Eshbach says it’s important to remember not everyone has computers and libraries are important for filling the need.
Marple: keyboard of dreams
Marple Public Library is one of six large libraries in the county that act as area resource centers, providing more than just books and research facilities, but major tech hubs. Since the installation of wireless, Information Services Director Toni Stabinski has seen a significant increase in laptop use inside the library. “If you build it, they will come,” said Stabinski. “Even before we built it, they would come and ask.” Marple joins Haverford, Concord, Upper Darby, Swarthmore, and Radnor as the six local libraries that have wireless access in at least one of their branches at the moment.
Up and coming: Landsowne, Swarthmore
Lansdowne and Swarthmore are two libraries currently without wireless, but officials at both facilities are actively researching ways to bring the new technology into the fold. Lansdowne already has heavy use on its public computers-with about 1,400 people using five computers each month. Librarian Amy Gillespie said finding space in smaller libraries for new technology is an issue, as well as money. Gillespie says her library operates with a $380,000 annual budget. She hopes to make a plan for wireless soon. It’s one of the things I hope to have finalized in the next couple months, “she said. In Swarthmore, security has also been a concern according to Librarian Sharon Ford. Most libraries with wireless use a password system before patrons can log on, but this is not necessarily the case everywhere. “We’re working on it,” said Ford. “I’m waiting on some decisions on whether it has to be secured or unsecured.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This article has been redistributed under
Spidernet Technical Consulting, LLC with the permission of The News of Delaware County
http://www.spidernetconsulting.com