Okay, so there are various different ideas floating around concerning WiFi. I have spoken with different practitioners regarding this issue. Some of the concerns and thoughts that arise I will list below:
1. There don't really seem to be problems with "virus" issues if the student patrons or teachers or guests, for that matter, are connecting to use the internet and not to the high school internal network.
2. The content being accessed would still have the filters in place for the rest of the hardwired computers in the building. So there wouldn't be a problem with that aspect of students gaining assess to sites known to be "off limits". (Although students intent enough tend to find ways around that.)
3. There may be an initial learning curve issue that will need to be addressed, on the "how to" aspect. I believe a printout could be made available with the general directions, and then when there are other issues with the individual computers that arise those would be the concern of the individual...."we" would not be their tech trouble shooters, they would need to know how to work their own computers.
4. There would not be availability of printing from their own computers. That would need to be made perfectly clear, so there were not misconceptions.
5. There may be some concerns with regard to laptop usage and gaining access to inappropriate sites. I believe this could be kept to a minimum and students could use their laptops at tables, not hidden in corners so that some monitoring could still take place.
I think about going into my college classes, and I sit down and pull out my laptop and start taking notes that way. It is my preferred method. Fellow students have commented to me if they brought their computers to class they would not have the self-control to stay focused on the lecture note-taking, and with wireless available would be too tempted to start surfing, checking e-mail and doing other things.
One does need to have that internal locust of control. Perhaps the question is that if we start out students with the use of laptop computers in the elementary school and train them on the usage as a tool, like a pencil, another educational resource then as they grow older will there be less liklihood of detaching from the lesson at hand and doing other things? Maybe students of tomorrow will just be able to do more multi-tasking, so even if they were checking e-mail at the same time as the lesson is that okay? In my heart of hearts I say no, there is time for that outside of the classroom setting where direct instruction is meant to be given.
Many things to ponder, I guess those last comments got outside of the library. If we bring it back to WiFi in the school library, it seems as though it couldn't hurt, its just providing another tool and resource for the students to help them in doing their job...of learning and education. I also believe this helps the teachers and administrators who may not have access to their files from work at home and vise versa, instead of needing to e-mail everything from one spot to another, or putting everything on flash drives, maybe having access with ones own laptop is the better solution and then its portable. Just me thoughts. cheers.
A couple interesting articles
"One Child, One Laptop" by Brian Kenney in School Library Journal, August 2006
http://proxy.lib.wayne.edu:2073/pqdweb?index=3&did=1125645091&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1169999771&clientId=14288
"Librarians Embrace the Digital World" by Joan Oleck in School Library Journal, Dec. 2006.
http://proxy.lib.wayne.edu:2073/pqdweb?index=0&did=1170764471&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1170000182&clientId=14288
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Librarian Resigns Over WiFi
LIBRARY DIRECTOR RESIGNS BECAUSE OF WIFI
Library Director at a college in Santa Fe, NM left her position due to wireless internet (WiFi) in the library. Rebekah Zablud Azen, MLIS, resigned from her position at Quimby Memorial Library, Southwestern College, on December 16th, 2006 after administrators refused to discuss the issue. "I don't feel that I should have to jeopardize my health to secure or maintain employment, but allowing oneself to be irradiated is fast becoming a condition of employment for librarians. I just said no."
http://centeredlibrarian.blogspot.com/
(January 18, 2007 posting)
Council on Wireless Technology Impacts Citizens and professionals concerned about responsible use of electromagnetic radiation
936-B Seventh Street, #206,
Novato, California 94945http://www.energyfields.org/
For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 17, 2007
Contact: Rebekah Azen
505-424-9475
rebekah@cybermesa.com
Although this is interesting, I personally don't believe it to be a tremendous threat. So much of our living space has been filled with the frequencies to allow for cell phone usage, wireless computer usage, remote controls, microwaves, etc. etc.
I thought it would be interesting to put the link here to the article as this blog topic is specifically Libraries and WiFi. I do not believe this will be a common trend however.
Although I did find this excerpt at punkplanet initially, that link does not seem to work, so I have added information above and another link. The article is longer and speaks in-depth about what some perceive to be the effects of such technologies. I believe it was originally posted at the LITA listserv (Library and Information Technology Association).
Library Director at a college in Santa Fe, NM left her position due to wireless internet (WiFi) in the library. Rebekah Zablud Azen, MLIS, resigned from her position at Quimby Memorial Library, Southwestern College, on December 16th, 2006 after administrators refused to discuss the issue. "I don't feel that I should have to jeopardize my health to secure or maintain employment, but allowing oneself to be irradiated is fast becoming a condition of employment for librarians. I just said no."
http://centeredlibrarian.blogspot.com/
(January 18, 2007 posting)
Council on Wireless Technology Impacts Citizens and professionals concerned about responsible use of electromagnetic radiation
936-B Seventh Street, #206,
Novato, California 94945http://www.energyfields.org/
For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 17, 2007
Contact: Rebekah Azen
505-424-9475
rebekah@cybermesa.com
Although this is interesting, I personally don't believe it to be a tremendous threat. So much of our living space has been filled with the frequencies to allow for cell phone usage, wireless computer usage, remote controls, microwaves, etc. etc.
I thought it would be interesting to put the link here to the article as this blog topic is specifically Libraries and WiFi. I do not believe this will be a common trend however.
Although I did find this excerpt at punkplanet initially, that link does not seem to work, so I have added information above and another link. The article is longer and speaks in-depth about what some perceive to be the effects of such technologies. I believe it was originally posted at the LITA listserv (Library and Information Technology Association).
Monday, January 15, 2007
WIFI and Libraries
WIFI or WiFi [wi(reless) fi(delity).] as defined by American Heritage Dictionary:
n. A trademark for the certification of products that meet certain standards for transmitting data over wireless networks OR
as defined by WordNet:
noun - a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over distances of a few hundred feet; uses ethernet protocol [syn: wireless local area network]
Libraries as defined by American Heritage Dictionary:
A place in which literary artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, prints, records, and tapes, are kept for reading, reference or lending.
Hmmmm..... well I guess one would get stuck on the "kept" part of the Libraries definition with regard to computers and internet resources, as it can not be "kept" in one spot as we traditionally think of it.
What is the point of WiFi?
In my opinion it is to provide a convenience service to people. I have installed a wireless router in my home for the ease of use with my laptop. It gives me the opportunity to get work done not only sitting at the desk in the den, but also to go to the kitchen table, the living room, or barricade myself in the bedroom when I have those projects that must get done and too much commotion in the rest of the house.
So this gets to the point at hand. The offering of WiFi at other venues allows people to leave their homes or schools with their laptop and get work done in another location. A library is a common place to get school work completed. Although not all school work requires the internet I believe there has gotten to be substantial integration of technology and on-line resources into school work. Definitely for college courses, however, I would also say it is getting more so with High School as well.
Professors will have on-line discussions that need to be addressed, lectures to be viewed, e-mail communications between classmates and professors, the all important research that must be done completed before the paper or powerpoint can be created. More and more people go to coffee shops to have a drink and a scone with their laptops to conduct their business using the WiFi or to complete their school work.
More and more libraries have taken a page from these venues by adding their own coffee shops and wireless. I see it as only making sense and providing a service that will enhance the library as a place where productive work can be accomplished, as well as a meeting spot for the community and a place to browse the shelves for reference, or that just right book. Libraries will continue to be places for children to go for story hour, and parents to find regular books, audio books, music, videos, newspapers, magazines, warmth, and all for free.
Not everyone has a laptop nor needs wireless internet, however it does provide another service and venue for those people so wanting it. Personally I have been known to go to the local coffee shop and even sit in the parking lot and access their wireless when internet has been down at home, and I didn't have the money nor inclination to buy a cup of coffee. If my local library had had wireless, I would have happily gone there instead!
There are many public libraries that have Free Wireless Access here is the web page with regard to just that from The New York Public Library.
I've droned on long enough....more later....maybe with specific regard to School Libraries vs. Public....cheers...
n. A trademark for the certification of products that meet certain standards for transmitting data over wireless networks OR
as defined by WordNet:
noun - a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals to transmit and receive data over distances of a few hundred feet; uses ethernet protocol [syn: wireless local area network]
Libraries as defined by American Heritage Dictionary:
A place in which literary artistic materials such as books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets, prints, records, and tapes, are kept for reading, reference or lending.
Hmmmm..... well I guess one would get stuck on the "kept" part of the Libraries definition with regard to computers and internet resources, as it can not be "kept" in one spot as we traditionally think of it.
What is the point of WiFi?
In my opinion it is to provide a convenience service to people. I have installed a wireless router in my home for the ease of use with my laptop. It gives me the opportunity to get work done not only sitting at the desk in the den, but also to go to the kitchen table, the living room, or barricade myself in the bedroom when I have those projects that must get done and too much commotion in the rest of the house.
So this gets to the point at hand. The offering of WiFi at other venues allows people to leave their homes or schools with their laptop and get work done in another location. A library is a common place to get school work completed. Although not all school work requires the internet I believe there has gotten to be substantial integration of technology and on-line resources into school work. Definitely for college courses, however, I would also say it is getting more so with High School as well.
Professors will have on-line discussions that need to be addressed, lectures to be viewed, e-mail communications between classmates and professors, the all important research that must be done completed before the paper or powerpoint can be created. More and more people go to coffee shops to have a drink and a scone with their laptops to conduct their business using the WiFi or to complete their school work.
More and more libraries have taken a page from these venues by adding their own coffee shops and wireless. I see it as only making sense and providing a service that will enhance the library as a place where productive work can be accomplished, as well as a meeting spot for the community and a place to browse the shelves for reference, or that just right book. Libraries will continue to be places for children to go for story hour, and parents to find regular books, audio books, music, videos, newspapers, magazines, warmth, and all for free.
Not everyone has a laptop nor needs wireless internet, however it does provide another service and venue for those people so wanting it. Personally I have been known to go to the local coffee shop and even sit in the parking lot and access their wireless when internet has been down at home, and I didn't have the money nor inclination to buy a cup of coffee. If my local library had had wireless, I would have happily gone there instead!
There are many public libraries that have Free Wireless Access here is the web page with regard to just that from The New York Public Library.
I've droned on long enough....more later....maybe with specific regard to School Libraries vs. Public....cheers...
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