Dear all,

I mailed the list a short while ago asking for information about the level
of wireless access available in libraries.  A summary of my results is
below.  Please get in touch with me if you would like any further
information.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Tracey

Survey of activities in UK HE institutions:
We undertook an informal survey on the JISC lis-link mailing list, in
order to ascertain the current picture of wireless provision in University
and other HE libraries.   18 institutions replied to the survey.  Of
these, 15 institutions reported that they currently had wireless access in
some or all of their library buildings.  The other three who responded to
the survey were planning to introduce wireless access during the summer of
2005.  Four institutions reported that they had close to full coverage of
their library buildings, with others reporting that they intended to
extend wireless coverage further, usually using a phased approach.  Some
institutions have chosen not to provide wireless coverage across their
entire building in order to maintain ‘silent study areas’.  Other
institutions report a few complaints about noise from students, where the
majority of the library, or the entire library has been wireless-
enabled.   Other reasons for not wireless-enabling entire buildings
included lack of data and power sockets in certain areas.

Seven libraries report that they are loaning wireless kit to users – this
typically includes wireless laptops and wireless cards.  One institution
allows users to borrow a wireless adaptor card for the duration of the
semester, on payment of a £150 deposit.  Another institution reports that
it has 39 wireless cards available, which are issued on a 1-day loan
basis.  A third institution has 14 wireless laptops available for loan,
with plans to increase this to 30 this summer.  The services are reported
to be generally well used.

Nobody reported that they are loaning PDAs (personal digital assistants)
to users, although four institutions report that they are exploring the
options associated with this.

Reasons for not loaning equipment include: lack of specialist support
available to support users with problems and slow take-up of services.
One institution reports that it expects usage of loaned wireless cards to
diminish in the future as more users are now arriving with laptops with
integral wireless cards as standard.

A number of issues were reported with wireless services.  One institution
found that they had problems with battery charge-up time for loaned
laptops.  Others have found that support issues have arisen with dropped
connections, authentication, non-standard devices and the requirement for
PAT testing of electrical equipment.  Trailing power supply cables have
also caused some concerns for health and safety.

One institution which had not yet installed wireless access said that they
anticipated problems with security, ease of access, wireless blindspots
and managing expectations of users for secure storage for laptops.  One
institution reports a security-related incident where the Library was
asked to provide details of the user who had borrowed a specific wireless
card at a certain time.

Library staff have often provided initial support for basic set-up and
trouble-shooting, passing users on to IT services colleagues if they are
unable to resolve problems.  Other institutions reported that the majority
of users with their own laptop seem to know what they are doing and
require little support.