Second Thought

I am jumping a bit ahead of the course schedule but since this a “free post” I would like to bring up the issue of wireless access at the library. For my purposes I'm talking specifically about the QEII library. I'm not even going to raise the issue of is it a good idea because on a large campus like Memorial wireless internet is necessity. The issue I'm addressing in this post is how wireless access can seem problematic.

I work some of my TA at a station in the Commons renewing students computer accounts and helping them with their writing. From that position I've had a chance to see the large lineup for wireless help that sometimes develops. Some time the line can get up to ten people—all holding their laptops in a forlorn and frustrated manner. Thus, its obvious that there is a need for computer support or at least computer savvy librarians in the modern library because, if I may employ an imperfect analogue, many people (and me a lot of the time) are treating their laptops and handheld devices in the same why they use their cars. They know how to use them up until the moment something goes wrong. I'm not being critical, it is simply the common practice. I think everyone has a friend or relative (My brother Dave) who is usually conscripted when serious troubleshooting is demanded.

The question becomes “Why not have open wireless on campus and dispense with the whole problem?” I guess there are two answers. The first is that the free wireless is available only to MUN students and library users. In this sense the access is a service lumped in with tuition and the benefits of university affiliation. The other is that unprotected networks open the door to malicious users and Wardrivers that could harm the network (and by extension the collection) and threaten the privacy of student records. In the long run expired wireless keys and a busy computer support desk are less of a headache than scenarios encrypted access protect against.