Libraries should offer Wi-Fi access

Published 5 years, 10 months ago in life stories

The last time I visited a public library, I remarked on the fact that they didn’t offer an Wi-Fi access at all. The only internet access they offered was vanilla ‘http’ access on very old Windows based computers. It was frustrating. They didn’t offer any other access either… no eithernet jacks, or even free phone lines.

Today, I read on Adam Kalsey’s weblog an interesting twist to the argument about why libraries should offer free public Wi-Fi access.

I’d even go so far as to say that libraries should offer for-fee Wi-Fi access at the least. Think of it this way:

Libraries exist to provide knowledge to the public at large. The majority of library patrons are no what would be considered high-income, and arguably, most of them couldn’t afford laptops equipped with Wi-Fi. Those that could afford such machines and periperhals, would likely pay a small service fee to access a libraries Wi-Fi network, which could generate a new and small revenue stream for the library (which should arguably be able to cover the libraries small maintenance and hardware costs as well as earn them some extra cash to pay for better services elsewhere in the building).

I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing someone like T-Mobile offering inexpensive (I’m talking $1.00 per day access rates) service inside libraries as a way to give the libraries a new service at no cost. I also wouldn’t be opposed to paying $3 - $5 per day to access this Wi-Fi service, if I knew that at least half of that money went back to the library. It’d sure be better than funding the service on the backs of all the tax-payers that’d never actually use the service.

So, free or paid-for, I wouldn’t care, but I’d like to see Wi-Fi in all public libraries.

5 Responses to “Libraries should offer Wi-Fi access”

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1 Adam Kalsey Jan 22nd, 2003 at 12:27 pm

I disagree about the fees. Adding a wireless AP to the existing setup would cost less than $50. They don’t need to broadcast wireless through the whole building (although that would be nice, too). They only need to add coverage in the immediate area near the existing Internet terminals.

By adding this, they could actually be saving money by reducing the number of terminals they need to have in the library. When I was there yesterday, there were 4 or 5 people with laptops. Two were sitting at Internet terminals, apparently researching something and then typing on their laptops. If they had Wi-Fi cards, that’s two less terminals in use. Heck, the library could even offer inexpensive WiFi cards that you could check out for a couple of hours with your library card. A cheap WiFi card costs much less than an additional terminal.

An obsolete computer with some sort of captive portal software could be used as a gateway to the WiFi Net access. When you open your browser, you get a web page that requires you to enter your libabry card number as the price of admission to the Internet.
2 Kevin Jan 23rd, 2003 at 2:26 am

don’t we already pay some tax on our phone bill to cover the cost of wiring/bandwidth of libraries and schools? free should be a no brainer
3 pete Jan 23rd, 2003 at 1:03 pm

Wi-Fi at the library?

The first thing I thought of was: Prime real estate would be living next door to the library!
4 paul Feb 3rd, 2003 at 1:09 am

I have been thinking about this lately, given how cheap wireless gear is. You could easily make your bookstore/coffeehouse (lots of these here in Seattle) a wireless hotspot for the price of an Airport and a cable modem drop.

Of course, you might get some static from the cable/telco since some of them regard bandwidth sharing as theft of service.

But, yes, I agree, libraries and public spaces like this — even bus terminals — could be made into hotspots and I see no compelling reason why they shouldn’t be, except funding.