Wifi Wherever
Submitted by jaclyn.fulwood on Tue, 07/12/2016 - 11:28
Type of Pilot Project:
Public Service
Describe Project and Impact:
Members will have access to free basic wifi anywhere in the Del City area, hopefully expanding to the entire Metro service area if successful.
Project Description and Expected Outcomes:
Members will have wifi access on the street and in their homes via use of a library-sponsored wifi system. Wifi routers on streetlight poles will broadcast a wifi network users can sign into using their library card number. Del City/the East Region would be a good starting place for this project because of the high poverty levels in our area.
Why should we select this project?:
We could increase connectivity and information access 24/7 to members who may have trouble affording internet access. We could also raise market penetration considerably. If we want every member to use a service in the next 19 years, we must provide services they want and need that don't require physical visits to the library. Please note that the point here is to meet needs, not wants. I am not suggesting we offer a high enough speed that, for example, console gamers can drop their high speed Internet plans. However, we could offer enough connectivity that a person who works two or three minimum wage jobs to make ends meet and cannot get to the library during open hours, could sit down at a computer late at night and apply for a better job.
Constraints, Limitations, or Dependencies:
We would need to convince an Internet provider to partner with us on the project. Also, I do not know how to estimate costs for this project, but it is fair to say they would be astronomical.
Source of Inspiration:
Riverfront Park in Spokane, WA offers free wifi to visitors via routers placed on the poles of the park lighting system. The City of Mountain View, CA, has partnered with Google to provide free wifi to their downtown corridor, again via the use of equipment placed on light poles. http://www.mountainview.gov/depts/it/wi_fi.asp. Topeka-Shawnee is looking at a similar project, though details on implementation are not readily available at this time. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2016/06/awards/2016-galelj-library-of-the-y...
Partner/Supporting Departments:
Digital Library
Information Technology
Performance Indicators:
Market Penetration
Member Retention
Environment:
Virtual
Relationship:
Spark
Experience:
TeXperiences
Cluster:
Digitarians
Staying Connected
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