Maine Perspective Front Page
Wireless Laptops Available for Use by Library Patrons
Books aren't the only sources of information that can be checked out at Fogler Library. Beginning this month, library patrons can now sign out one of eight wireless laptop computers, equipped with the latest software, a Web browser and FirstClass.
The three-hour loans of laptops are the latest information technology tools offered by Fogler as it evolves into a digital library.
Funding for the pilot project came from a $2.5 million bond referendum to the University of Maine System in 1998. A significant portion of the monies allocated to Fogler were used to enhance access for the public, including support for wireless technology, the purchase of state-of-the-art multiformat workstations for the library's computer clusters, and an assisted-access workstation for persons with hearing and visual disabilities.
"Fogler is on the verge of a major digital library initiative," says Gene Daigle, library network coordinator. "Part of that initiative is to deliver information at any time to anyone enrolled at UMaine, wherever they may be.
"With more resources being moved to digital format, laptops like this offer easier access for students, faculty and staff," he says. "Also, providing loaner laptops is an attempt to push wireless technology forward, encouraging patrons to buy wireless cards for ethernet access on their own laptops and use them as easily as they now use the phones in their homes or offices."
The eight Digital laptop computers, loaded with Office 2000 software, can be signed out of the Listening Center with a MaineCard and driver's license. The library's second and third floor, and part of the first, have been equipped with the antennas and receiver-transmitters necessary for the wireless technology, providing users full ethernet speed comparable to that of a hard-wired network. Currently, the laptops are functional on the network within 100 feet of the library's exterior.
Fogler officials will submit a proposal to the Academic Computing and Advisory Committee (ACAC) this academic year, seeking funding to expand wireless technology with an antennae on the roof of the library.
The library now has two types of computer clusters. One is Information Technologies' general purpose cluster, located behind the reference area. Fogler maintains research clusters in the reference, and in the science and engineering areas. In addition, eight study cubicles in the library are hard-wired to provide laptop connections to users with their own laptops.
Printing from all the computers in the library, including the wireless, is done in the clusters.
"Eight wireless laptops don't put a dent in the shortage of public computer resources for students on campus," says Daigle. "But through this pilot project, we hope to show the feasibility of the technology."
Wireless technology can meet short-term needs for access to digital information in a particular location, or it can be used to equip other study areas on campus that are not hard wired. The biggest advantage of wireless versus hard-wire technology is in the price.
"The least expensive way to make access widely available is to allow students to buy wireless cards," says Daigle. "Dartmouth has already done this in its library and on a large scale throughout its campus. Some colleges have taken to wiring every seat in an auditorium. Instead of that, at UMaine we could use wireless technology in place of hard-wiring, where it makes sense to do so. I could see in the future that there might be a large block of these around campus as an alternative to expanding public clusters."