[originals: 1, 2, 3 ]

This will likely result in more people putting money on Starbucks cards and more people visiting Starbucks locations. The program must be the result of Starbucks learning from libraries and other sensible places that offer free wifi. I wonder how much traffic Starbucks would divert from libraries if they offered unlimited free wifi. Whatever the case, I’ll stick with my local favorite.
[photo credit]

…not sure why it should be a *library* venture if the purpose is to provide coffee, free wifi, and non-circulating magazines.

The more I think about it the more I’m convinced that the concept of a cafe branch is a great idea. Libraries are doing the reverse and putting coffee shops in libraries, why not go all the way and put a library in a coffee shop? The idea doesn’t seem that radical to me. Here are some characteristics of my hypothetical cafe library branch:

→ provides access to information
→ has some computers available
→ provides help finding things (if asked)
→ provides access to content (magazines, newspapers, some books strewn about)
→ is a community gathering place
→ holds some special events
→ has reservable group study space

Pretty traditional stuff, right? People might bristle at this idea not because of the traditional services it would provide, but what it would lack. In particular, a collection of books.

Now before anyone gets bent out of shape, let me be clear. I’m not saying that all libraries should be like this, just that this model is an option. Libraries can certainly be much more than what I’m describing here, and they should be. However, libraries don’t always have to strive to be their full incarnation 100% of the time. Just like a small neighborhood branch probably doesn’t have an extensive collection of periodical back issues, so my hypothetical cafe library could shed some library baggage to free it to explore new territory. The geographical language is appropriate. Without large collections to house, the relatively small cafe library can fit into spaces that other branches couldn’t. (Wouldn’t it be great to have space for picking up and returning holds though?) This might allow it to be located in vital and busy areas with tons of foot traffic.

I know you didn’t get a Masters degree to serve coffee. No big deal, it wouldn’t be part of your job. The “shift supervisor” could be a “for real librarian,” managing staff and doing other librarian work like monitoring the library’s IM reference service.

I’m not convinced this idea would work in every context or community, but sitting here in Little Beirut where many people are fueled by their neighborhood coffee shops, I can think of a number of cities where this would work.

This library cafe branch would not just be a means to the end of getting people to use other library resources. It would be legitimate on its own, but wouldn’t it do a good job marketing the larger library too? Among the locally made art on display there would be adverts for relevant library events. Each time someone logs into the wifi network they’d be greeted with list of library resources and be authenticated into library databases. Oh, and how about this? People don’t need a library card to access the wifi, but customers get a 50% discount on coffee and food when they sign up for one. And a 10% discount on each transaction when they present the card.

In a certain sense, a cafe branch would be for a niche market. This is a good thing because we know that niche markets can become obsessively enthusiastic about their interests. Because they’re often concerned with trying to be many things to different people, libraries often miss out on capturing this passion. Last time I checked, we want people passionate and excited about libraries. Having a narrower focus might be one way to cultivate more use and zeal for the library.

There are lots of coffee shops in my ‘hood during the days and evenings with wifi, but I’m specifically looking for a place I can go on a Friday night that’s open at least until midnight, and won’t be so cacophonous and crazy that I’ll have to worry about either not having anyplace to sit down, or having some staggering drunk spill beer on my keyboard on their way to the blasting jukebox.

I still think that the neighborhood cafe complete with wifi, magazines (for browsing, not checking out), a jukebox and attractive librarian baristas is a totally viable service opportunity in many places. It would be a natural space for community events and book groups. Perhaps even more natural than newspapers and bars hooking up and hosting movie discussions. Come to think of it, running a library branch like that would be really fun! Any takers?

And I appreciate everyone else who keeps an open wireless network, including all the coffee shops, bars and libraries I have visited in the past, the Dayton International Airport where I started writing this and the Four Points Sheraton where I finished. You all make the world a better place.

I agree. Finding free wifi in an airport is a real treat.

I would have plugged a wireless router into the network my first week at the library but it wasn’t that simple. Our interwebs come to us via a county sponsored pipe that doesn’t allow wireless networking. Hrm. My options for getting a wireless network up and running were to either bring in a second internet connection or wait for the library coop to offer it as a service to their member libraries. The second option was appealing in certain ways but was going to require a) more time and b) money for some equipment. Enough money to pay for a second internet connection for quite a while, in fact.

NPPL volunteer and North Plains resident Mark Lipscomb owns an IT consulting company called Complete Network Care and naturally is into techie things. One afternoon a few weeks back I was telling him about the situation regarding our lack of wifi and he said his company might be willing to sponsor a DSL connection for the library. I was pretty happy about this! We continued the conversation and I told him about a vision I had for a library sponsored wifi network throughout the main commercial strip of North Plains. His ears perked up and he mentioned that one of his clients, Wireless Applications Consulting, sets up, among other things, big wireless networks. I was very interested in this!

Drew Piriak of Wireless Applications Consuling, Mark and I met at the library the second week of December. We had an easy conversation and brokered a solution that satisfied all parties:

• A two-tier wireless network would cover the library and downtown strip of North Plains. One would be fast and free, one would be faster and not free (profits going to Drew and/or Mark).
• A small antenna would be put on the roof of the library. We’d contact a local business (with a tall building!) and ask if they’d let us put another antenna on their roof.
• Mark and Drew would provide the equipment and new DSL line.
• The NPPL would recognize the companies on its website and in the building with a sign.

I ran the details past the City Manager, Library Board, and Library Friends (who currently own the library building). Everyone was enthused and on board. The City Manager informed me that the North Plains City Council listed providing wifi downtown as a goal for 2008. Score for the library. The Rogue Pub has agreed to let us put a device on top of their building. Zero red tape, no hassles, easy as pie.

When users log on to the network named “North Plains Public Library” they will be directed to a page thanking them for using the network (that is, reminding them again that it is provided by the library), thanking the sponsors, and listing relevant library resources and news. I’ll likely use Feed2JS to bring in our website’s main feed (and maybe a NPPL new items feed if I can sort that out).

After plenty of doom and gloom about municipal wifi, the subject is enjoying a small resurgence. I think this is possibly the best library project with which I’ve been involved. It is providing a great service to the community, and is a great example of a library being a tech leader. The NPPL is remaining relevant. I’ve already been interviewed by the Oregonian about this and I think the Hillsboro Argus will run a piece too. This is good marketing for the library, and libraries in general.

There’s another exciting possibility. If the network has plenty of active users or the library finds additional funding for more Meraki devices, we’ll consider making inroads into the residential sections of North Plains, spreading the reach of the library even further. There are areas of North Plains that are broadband challenged so this could really solve a problem.

Thanks to all involved for making this happen!

People’s recommendations? Airports and hospitals.

Also it is perhaps interesting to note the asker’s question is about “Favorite libraries or public study spaces…” but states that he’s looking for a place to run his business.

Yesterday, Portland released a free, advertising supported wireless network throughout the downtown and nearby area east of the Willamette.

12 blocks and it’ll reach me!!

Tim Lauer imagines

teachers and students on class field trips taking along one of the laptops to blog the trip and upload photographs for the students back at the school.

Sounds good to me.

Good morning all.

I visited Panera* earlier today to get some coffee and wireless. Attempting to put something up on this site, I was greeted with a friendly notice from their SonicWall:

This was funny and sad.

So what do you think this site could be a cult of? Perhaps IM in libraries. I’m reminded of one of the funniest things said to me at the conference. Marydee Ojala quipped one morning, “Aaron, sooner or later, those two letters just come out of your mouth!”

*It broke my streak of not going to chain establishments, but my usual cafe haunt isn’t open on Monday mornings. I don’t blame them. ;)

Let’s just hope that they don’t get harassed for using it after I gave them the library’s express permission. This, I think, is the first recorded of people using our connection after hours, although someone once told me they sat in their car one morning and caught up on their email before catching a train downtown.

I inquired about the response he has seen, and he reported that about 1000 people are watching nearly 6000 buddies through IMWatching.

What’s more, his mother is the director of a middle school media center, so he enjoyed reading about his creation in the context of libraries.

So I feel like I never get to take advantage of the neat things libraries are doing. That changed today when I was early to a meeting (by 2 hours – damn Treo lying to me again! ;) ) at the Downers Grove Public Library. I spoke to one of the Reference folks I know there, and she mentioned where I could pick up a signal in the library. Hurrah!

As I type this I’m five feet from an entrance to the library on a bench. I downloaded some documents on which I’m working, and can now head to be productive whilst drinking some coffee. Personally benefitting from wireless in libraries makes me realize how thankful some people must be to have easy and free access at their libraries.

n.b. A woman walked past me watching me type. She took a few steps back and asked if there was a wireless connection in the library. I responded that there was indeed, and wasn’t that the bee’s knees.

p.s. I should stay here all day. i just overheard a mother telling her child that in a few years people aren’t going to know what books are because everything is going electronic. Then a boy walked in and stated plainly, “It smells in the library!”

Meanwhile, thousands of free hot spots have been established by public agencies, mom-and-pop businesses hoping to attract customers and individuals working to build a grass-roots based network. A handful of city governments, some in cooperation with local businesses, are deploying free Wi-Fi networks in parts of Jacksonville, Fla., lower Manhattan and Portland, Ore., among other places.

I know that quite a few libraries offer free wireless access. If we would only organize I’m sure we could get some national media coverage about our efforts. With this, more libraries would be apt to implement wireless. Not only would this be an opportunity for libraries to recieve some positive attention, it could also shape the way people use the technology. If libraries would rally around this issue we could have a real impact on the private sector. Establishment offering free wireless will someday likely render pay-as-you-go situations totally unattractive and unnecessary.

Once I’ve gone through these steps, the internet connection must be tested to see if they had any effect. Pinging a site out on the web (Start -> Run -> cmd -> ping URL) would be a fine and dandy way to test the internet connection, but I bet people get a better idea that the connection is indeed working when they see a browser launch and their homepage appear. Also, and there is only a slim chance of this happeneing, but perhaps pinging would work but the browser would still act up. Unlikely, yes, but one never knows.

The only reason that opening their browser is not a good option is because it is a small invasion of their privacy. Before double clicking, I make sure to ask their permission. Their blessing on my action notwithstanding, I still feel awkward throughout the end of the transaction.

Am I overreacting?

Was I ever surprised as I rolled into the Adult Services area. Sitting at a table were two people, each with laptops. We exchanged greetings and then I asked, “Hey, did you know that the library is closed?” The responded that they didn’t, but thought perhaps that the library was closing up soon since all the lights were off and there were no people in. the. entire. library.

I was there, had some time, so I asked them if there was anything I could help them with quickly. They were slightly embarrassed and responded that they had just come in to use the wireless network.

This anecdote illustrates that many potential library users crave wireless. (I mean, come on! The library on a Friday night!? Oh, wait.) I tried to get them to stay for my Film Discussion Group, and was nearly successful, but they were on a mission for connectivity. I’m sure they ended up at a commercial establishment.