Public Libraries and WiFi

1. Public Libraries and WiFi David Potts Senior Network Adviser The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

2. Agenda • The People’s Network • Background to WiFi development • Libraries supporting others • Why WiFi in public libraries? • The pilots • Evaluation • Next steps

3. The People’s Network Infrastructure • National mosaic of local networks • 90% broadband connectivity • Accessible ICT in trusted local venues (libraries) • Delivered on time, in budget

4. The People’s Network • Successful project • 4,200 libraries • 3,000 UK online centres • 30,000 terminals • 60 million hours • Very popular • Building on success • Instant ‘Shop window’ infrastructure

5. Framework for the Future • Published February 2003 by DCMS • Restates the importance of libraries • Offers a 10 year development vision • Challenges for the People’s Network • How to use the network? • MLA Action Plan • Digital Citizenship • People’s Network Service • Widening access

6. Components • Personalised interface • Online enquiries • ‘Sense of Place’ resources • Virtual reference shelf • e-government • Web browsing! • WiFi could help widen access to the People’s Network Service

7. Background • 10 Downing Street • MLA, OeE, DTI, Intel • Stephen Timms, Minister for e-Commerce • Pilots idea • Identifying funding

8. Libraries supporting others • UK online centres • Key government target on universal Internet access • E-government • National and local • Broadband • DTI • TCA

9. Department of Trade and Industry “To ensure the competitiveness of the UK economy, broadband needs to be available to as many people as possible. Better partnerships between the broadband industry, Government, the regions, local government and local communities will allow every community to experience the same advantages broadband brings to some rural communities already – and in a far shorter timescale than ever envisaged.”

10. The Countryside Agency “To make life better for people in the countryside and to make the quality of the countryside better for everyone” • To improve life for people in the countryside: • boosting and improving essential rural services • improving the economic potential of the countryside

11. Why WiFi in public libraries? • Target rural libraries • Often only broadband location • Internet ‘on the pause’ • Fast food restaurants, train stations, coffee shops • Laptops already being brought in • Existing People’s Network infrastructure • Experimenting with new technology • Familiar location • Are libraries good locations for WiFi hotspots? • Opportunity for libraries to experiment

12. Issues to be explored • Ease of installation • True cost • Setting up costs • Usage levels • Impact on front line staff • Robustness of technology • Security • Charging • Anything else

13. The Pilots - Locations • Ayton Library (North Yorkshire) • Barnard Castle Library (County Durham) • Belper Library (Derbyshire) • Brewood Library (Staffordshire) • Chatburn Library (Lancashire) • Launceston Library (Cornwall) • Lyndhurst Library (Hampshire) • Potton Library (Bedfordshire) • Princetown Library (Devon) • Sandwich Library (Kent)

14. The Pilots • Hardware for loan • PDAs, laptops • Different scenarios • Inside the library • Inside and outside the library • 12 months duration

15. Evaluation • How often is hotspot accessed? • For how long? • When? • Session interrupted? • Charging successful? • How much are people willing to pay? • Staff impact • Network impact

16. Next steps • Disseminate evaluation • National rollout? • Museums, Archives?

17. People’s Network success is the key Organisations willing to invest in libraries if we can respond effectively Libraries seen as innovators The need to keep trying new approaches Contact david.potts@mla.gov.uk www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk www.mla.gov.uk Summary