Des Moines-Area Library Goes Wireless

Jenne writes “The Urbandale Public Library has gone wireless! Patrons can bring in their laptop computers with wireless network cards and connect to the Internet. Up to 10 people can connect at the same time and the signal can be received throughout most of the library.”

July 1, 2004 by Uncategorized 2

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2 Responses

  1. AshtabulaGuy says:
    July 1, 2004 at 7:47 pm

    An Odd Accounting Question
    Do WiFi signals propagate through building walls? What would happen if someone was sitting outside the building after hours, possibly after taking some street symbology into account, and using the access for nefarious reasons?

    I have no answers to the questions above, which is why I ask. WiFi kinda leaves those unanswered questions for me too much.

    Reply
  2. GregS* says:
    July 1, 2004 at 8:04 pm

    Re:An Odd Accounting Question
    They do go outside. Oddly enough my understanding is that bookshelves within the library actually cause more interference.

    As for what someone will do with it depends on two things.
    1. If they are just up to general mischief or illegal behavior there is nothing you can do or should do. K-Mart is not responsible if someone hacks up their spouse with a set of the store’s steak knives.
    2. If they are up to specific behavior directed at the library’s network you simply hope and pray your IT people are good enough. (all our public internet and wireless connections are through a seperate network provided by the local broadband company so we don’t worry about it and our policy is that patrons are responsible for their own laptop’s security.)

    Reply

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