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CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals 7 Ridgmount St, London WC1E 7AE. Tel: 020 7255 0500 Textphone: 020 7255 0505 Fax: 020 7255 0501 Email: [log in to unmask] News from CILIP Friday 3 December 2004 For immediate release (Please copy to online discussion lists) CILIP takes the lead with Wi-Fi Conference New one-day conference planned for January 2005 CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is presenting a Wireless Broadband in Libraries Conference in London on Wednesday 26 January 2005. It will focus on the massive growth of Wi-Fi Internet access and highlight opportunities for libraries to take advantage of this by providing new ways to access information. This new event will be presented at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London. It has attracted an unmatched panel of experts to discuss the potential of Wi-Fi for the whole library community, including Mike O'Brien, Minister of State for Energy and E-Commerce who will deliver a Keynote Address. The conference is backed by a powerful array of sponsoring organisations including MLA, the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Countryside Agency. It is supported by prime sponsor Regenerate IT and offers opportunities for suppliers to present the latest Wi-Fi technology on site. One highlight is a prize draw for a Wi-Fi enabled laptop, open to all paying delegates. The conference programme will include presentations on: current and potential use of Wi-Fi in libraries; preliminary results from a pilot Wi-Fi initiative in 10 local authorities; an interactive workshop on technology and social issues; and the special presentation by the Minister. A Leaders' Debate will also be held on the topic 'Where Now for Wi-Fi?'. CILIP's Wi-Fi Conference is aimed at chiefs of library services, directors of information management, and heads of e-government in local authorities, as well as suppliers of Wi-Fi and related technology. Full details of confirmed speakers and panellists, and background on the conference and sponsorship opportunities, are available online at www.cilip.org.uk/wifi. Or you can email [log in to unmask] or telephone CILIP Enterprises on 020 7255 0543. Background The UK is already one of the most Wi-Fi enabled countries in the world. Almost 10,000 hot spots are expected to be in use by the end of 2004 and nearly 118,000 are planned by 2006. London is second only to New York in global use, and latest research shows demand for public Wi-Fi services is stronger in Europe than the US. Some libraries have already embraced the technology, and a £60,000 MLA/Countryside Agency pilot is being rolled out across 10 rural public libraries nationwide. Lewisham has installed hotspots in all 11 of its public libraries and the British Library has recently extended its service in response to user demand. Wi-Fi is also helping universities and colleges to deliver learning resources directly to students and the impact of Wi-Fi is growing daily. Contact: Tim Buckley Owen, Head of Membership, Marketing & Media. Tel: 020 7255 0652 Email: [log in to unmask] Notes to Editors CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with around 23,000 members working in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries. For more information about CILIP, please go to www.cilip.org.uk. - Ends -