Information Research Weblog

The spread of wi-fi in libraries seems to be getting quite a lot of attention in the press in the USA—and much less in the UK (at least as far as my sources allow me to assess). One factor, I think, is the proliferation of local newspapers in the US, while in the UK these sources have declined considerably, often being replaced by free advertising-paid news-sheets such as Metro

Some examples of library news in the newspapers:

• Great Falls library goes wireless
• Chicago, San Diego, Miami-Date Libraries Offer Wireless Internet Access
• Wireless future sprouts at ‘hot spots' in KC
• Library system goes Wi-Fi
• Ossining Public Library Offers Wireless Internet
• Extreme makeover is complete at VSU library
• and there's competition, too: Old Town McDonald's offers wireless Web

Of course, it also happens in other places—Italy, for example: Italians fight ghost towns with wi-fi

News of what's going on in the UK seems to be more limited and there's an emphasis on what government plans to do in relation to wi-fi in public libraries, for example, from the BBC site: Libraries could get wireless web. Notice the 'could get'? With Tony Thatcher and the New Thatcherites still enamoured of big business and so-called 'public private partnerships' any government involvement is likely to be encouragement rather than money.