Recently,
the city’s Carnegie Library system added a 21st-century amenity to the
very modern renovations in three of its branches: Free, public wireless
access.
Starting just a couple weeks ago, the main library in Oakland
discretely activated its new wireless access points, posting a couple
small signs on the worktables. Wireless is also available at two other
recently renovated branches, Downtown and Squirrel Hill.
Currently, it’s a pilot program, says the Carnegie’s information
technology director Mike Nangia, and Oakland users will need to
configure their browsers slightly to access the network. “We haven’t
really advertised it yet, but the feedback so far has been great.”
The wireless network is available to any member of the public who
brings in a wireless-enabled laptop. And as before, internet access is
also available to any library card holder via the library’s public
desktop PCs.
“We think it’s the wave of the future,” Nangia says. “You can
download audiobooks, podcasts. This is part of seeing where the library
should be five, 10 years from now.”
As funding becomes available, Nangia says, “our goal is to put
wireless in all 17 branches and Main. It’s not just your traditional
old books and encyclopedias anymore. This is how libraries can
transform themselves to the digital age.”
Source: Mike Nangia, information technology director, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Photo copyright © Tom Altany