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The WPL's wireless system uses the WiFi standard
802.11b/g. Users will need to supply their own portable device with
either WiFi built-in or a WiFi network card. The library does secure its
wireless network with WPA security with TKIP encryption. However, the
library recommends that users should not transmit personal or sensitive
information, such as credit card information or online banking, while
using the library’s wireless connection. The library also advises that
users should have up-to-date anti-virus and spyware protection on their
laptop computer or other portable devices. For more information on this
service and how to configure your laptop please see
Common Wireless Access Questions.
Wilbraham Public Library’s Internet and Computer
Services Acceptable Use Policy governs the use
of the Internet when using the wireless access points within range of the
connection. The restriction or monitoring of a minor's access to the
library's wireless network is the sole responsibility of the parent or
guardian.
Library staff will provide general information
regarding log-in information necessary to access the Internet through the
wireless connections. If a patron is experiencing difficulty accessing
the wireless connection, library staff will be able to verify for the
user that the library’s wireless system is operating normally. Library
staff are not able to provide technical assistance or perform
troubleshooting involving patron’s equipment .
If users require further assistance, the user may need to consult with
hardware or software manufacturers to resolve technical issues. The
library cannot guarantee the user’s hardware will work with the library’s
wireless connection.
Printers are not available via the wireless
connection. If a user needs to print, save to a portable storage device
(floppy, USB Flash Drive, CD, etc) and use one of the wired public
workstations to print. Printing costs: black and white 10 cents per page
(first two pages free per print job); color 50 cents per page (no free
pages).
Common Wireless Access Questions
What is required to access the wireless Internet at
Wilbraham Public Library?
· You will need a
laptop computer or other portable device with a WiFi standard
"802.11b/g" wireless network interface card (NIC)
capable of WPA security.
· Minimum system
requirements: PCs - Win98 SE; Mac – system 10.3.
· You must agree to abide by the
Wilbraham Public Library Wireless Internet Policy .
· You should have a well charged battery.
Access to electrical outlets is limited within the library and
for safety reasons running electrical cords across walking
paths/aisles will not be permitted.
· You will need to provide your own headphones
if you plan to listen to audio files.
Inexpensive headphones may be available to
purchase at the Circulation Desk.
2. How do I connect to the library’s wireless network?
Step1: Establish that your laptop or portable
device is receiving a "good" wireless reception.
Step 2: Select the Wilbraham Public Library
SSID: wplinet
Step 3: Enter the password (See Reference
Librarian for password & registration information).
Step 4: Surf the internet from anywhere in the
library.
The library staff cannot provide exact
instructions on how your system will need to connect because
wireless hardware and software varies as to the operating systems
on your equipment.
3. What do I do if I am having troubling connecting to
the wireless network?
Establish that you are receiving a wireless
signal.
Check that your TCP/IP adapter setting is
"Obtain an IP address automatically".
Make sure that your laptop or device
acknowledges the wplinet
wireless connection.
Check that the WPA-TKIP is enabled.
The library staff will be able to verify for
you that the library’s wireless system is operating normally.
If you require further assistance, you may need
to consult with hardware or software manufacturers to resolve
technical issues.
Note: Library staff will not be able to provide
technical assistance or perform troubleshooting involving your
equipment. The hardware and software varies so greatly among
computers that it is your responsibility for knowing how to
configure and restore the settings on your own computer. The
library is not responsible for any changes that you may make to the
computer’s settings and cannot guarantee that your hardware will
work with the library’s wireless connection.
4. Are there any restrictions on my use of the
Internet?
Wireless access is available
during normal operating hours of the library
Wireless reception and connection speeds may be
affected the distance you are from the WPL wireless equipment and
by barriers such as walls, bookshelves, stairways.
The number of computers in use at one given
time at the library and the traffic on the global Internet will
also affect speed.
All users must agree and abide to the computing
policies of the library (Wilbraham
Public Library’s Internet and Computer Services Acceptable Use
Policy).
5. Is printing available through the wireless
connection?
No. If you need to print you will need to save
the data to a storage device (floppy, USB Flash Drive, CD, etc)
and use one of the wired public workstations to print. Please see
a Reference Librarian for further information or instructions.
You may also consider emailing the files to yourself.
Printing costs: black and white 10 cents per
page (first two pages free per print job); color 50 cents per
page (no free pages).
6. Terminology and definitions:
WiFi is a brand originally
licensed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe the underlying technology of
wireless local area networks (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11
specifications.
WPA
(Wi-Fi Protected Access)
is a class of systems to secure wireless (Wi-Fi) computer networks
TKIP
(Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)
is a security protocol used in Wi-Fi
Protected Access (WPA)
NIC
(network card , network adapter, network interface card) is a piece of computer
hardware designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer
network. It is an OSI model layer 2 item because it has a MAC address.
TCP/IP:
Internet protocol suite
is the set of communications protocols that implement the protocol stack
on which the Internet and most commercial networks run. It is sometimes
called the TCP/IP protocol suite, after the two most important
protocols in it: the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet
Protocol (IP), which were also the first two defined.
SSID
a code attached to all packets on a wireless network to
identify each packet as part of that network
WLAN
(wireless local area network) is a wireless local area
network, which is the linking of two or more computers without using
wires
Works cited:
Wikipedia. August 31, 2006. http://www.wikipedia.org
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