More from the Wifi sector

I arrived in this morning to find that at least someone else at CHB District Libraries reads this blog as there was now 2 large tables in Waipukurau Branch. (Thus they must have seen my blog entry about wifi people taking over the newspaper desk- that’s my reasoning anyhow). However I see that today that just has meant that we have more people with laptops and quite a few couples using both the APN’s and their laptops and taking up both tables. However it was what was happening over at the tables I was intrigued with as it put me in mind of the Thorn Tree Cafe in Nairobi during the 80’s when we would leave messages for other travellers and friends on the notice board around the tree at the cafe. Often these would be tips on where to go and what to do in Kenya and Tanzania and that is what was happening at the Wifi tables this morning. Lots of travellers comparing notes. It is like bringing the Thorn Tree Cafe into the digital age which I see that Lonely Planet has done with a Thorn Tree Cafe site. The wifiers this morning spilled over onto the APN computers and were all over the world comparing experiences, accommodation, excursions etc. It was a beautiful thing to behold!

Wifi Update

As I type this the newspaper table has been taken over by laptoppers (is that a word?…well it is now) busy using the library’s wifi access. It is great to see. However I may have to go over and maybe suggest they all become notepadders like myself as we take up so much less room. It might seem weird since we have the work computers to use but I like to bring in my notepad and have that going. I usually do blog and answer meebo stuff on that whilst having the library OS going on the work computers.Now this is interesting… I see a man wandering around aimlessly with a newspaper in his hand so I had better go and suggest he head upstairs to the YA section to find some room or maybe use the APN computers or bring in his laptop/notepad and read the newspaper online!!

Comments from Hamilton City Libraries APN customers

Well over 500 people a day are using APN across our 6 libraries. Wifi use is also increasing.
Here’s a few customer comments:

Benjamin said.. “I came to the library without being aware that a free internet service was available. I have used this service in addition to reading in the library. I think it is an excellent service.”

Stefan .. “I’m new in Hamilton just flew in from Germany and have no internet available in the hostel. Using the library internet connection to talk to home makes the start in New Zealand much easier.”

Anil .. “The service provided by the Hamilton Library is excellent. I am currently doing an online course and I have been using the resource everyday, and it has helped me to a great extent saving lots of money. The staff are doing a great job with the newly introduced facility.”

Susan .. “Thanks for asking. When I arrived in Hamilton about 2 months ago I was looking for a place to read. I liked the message outside the library and while reading here I found out about the free internet and used it mainly to keep in touch with family and friends and also to look for advertisements. I like the discipline of using it for just half an hour and how friendly the staff are. I haven’t tried learning anything new. Didn’t know I could Skype. It has been helpful that it is free and a quiet place to email.”

WiFi2go

 

Thursday afternoon, a week ago. The new WiFi equipment has arrived and I’m keen on checking how good our network coverage will be. WiFi hotspot at Buller Library would give our increasing deman on online access new options.  Our IT suggested getting a technician in, but maybe I can do it?  Blond Librarians…. Stop!  Didn’t the hardware come with a manual?

 

Pick up APN-Helpdesk instructions – they have very good DIY photos included; I like that – and quickly run through the set-up, pluck in some cables and ….. done! A nice melody indicates an established connection.

 

The first staff laptop is already detecting a signal. Wow. Let’s try another laptop in a different area. Signal strength between 3 and 4, internet traffic: really F A S T.

 

Feel attempted to skype my sister in Berlin, but hello! – I don’t have a web-cam on my laptop. Maybe a bit of youtube, Google Earth and I-tunes. Not a prob for APN WiFi; data coming up quickly as.

 

So it looks like I can move further to promoting the new service. Oh, it just comes into my mind that we plan a workshop on how to use the internet for family research. With WiFi we can take more learners on board! And I can let council staff know that our meeting room has coverage too. Pretty good for training sessions. Or I could invite high-school students to run a WiFi party, and I will design a nice poster with a big WiFi symbol on it…

 

My mental brainstorming is disrupted. Two customers are working on their laptops in the study room and want to know how they can print out downloaded files. Maybe I don’t even need to promote WiFi?

 

Next day I have a go in front of the library building. Still enough coverage to do home-banking in the car. I think of all these happy campers. What a pretty cool “WiF2go” you can discover throughout New Zealand libraries.