The Travelin' Librarian

I’ve now published two articles on policy issues for public libraries when offering WiFi to the public. I though I’d thought of everything. I should have known better…

Yesterday one of my students from a WA small public library mentioned that they require a library card number (or other temporary id number) to access the library’s WiFi connection. This caught me off guard as I’d never heard of this being done before. Granted, many lirbaries require some sort of login for the library computers for timing software purposes and/or to have a basic tracking system in case there is damage to the equipment. However, I’d never heard of requiring a login for the WiFi when the patron is using their own equipment.

I discussed it briefly with the librarian and she was unable to offer an explaination beyond the fact that since they did it with the library computers, they decided to do it for any computer that used their connection.

I thought about this overnight, and here’s my opinion:

1. As a patron with a laptop, the last thing I want to do is to have to walk into the library and have to enter my library card number to use my laptop.
2. As a visitor to a library with my own laptop I don’t want to have to ask for a temporary card to use my laptop.
3. As a staff member of a library that received a lot of tourists (as is the situation at the library in question) I don’t want to have to give out temp ID cards to a large number of patrons whom will never get a library card since they’re not residents.

Am I off base here? Do other libraries do this and I’m just unaware of it? What do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Not enough outlets
Originally uploaded by travelinlibrarian.

There are two problems with the outlet pictured in this photo. First, it’s the only one on the desk in the room. This is a problem as I would like to plug in both my laptop and my cell phone. Second, this lamp, and therefore the embedded outlet, it connected to a switch just inside the room’s door. This means that when I plug my cell phone into it to charge overnight and then turn off the room’s lights, my cell does not charge. The solution: A powerstrip that’s not connected to a wall switch.

Here’s another movie trailer edit that shows us that jaws could have been just like Free Willie.
via YesButNotYes

The London police are concerned about blogs. The blogs they’re concerned about; those of their employees.
Thanks Rob

information aesthetics has posted about a browser plugin that translates prices on Web pages from dollars to barrels of oil. A must for everyone that drives a vehicle that doesn’t get at least 30mpg.

Here’s this week’s Borders coupon for 25% off one item.