Abstract
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded ‘Managing Access to the Internet in Public Librarie s’ (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi Internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies. A mixed methods approach was used involving a review of the literature, a questionnaire survey of UK public library authorities and five case studies of selected authorities. A majority of UK public library authorities offer Wi-Fi access to the public at one or more of their libraries and they generally have an authentication system in place for their users. The majority of survey respondents that provide Wi-Fi use filtering software. There are similarities and differences in the ways that public libraries and commercial outlets provide and manage access to their wireless networks. Differences mainly relate to security and privacy: these differences reflect to an extent the underlying purposes of providing public Wi-Fi access as well as legal obligations. In some ways, public library Wi-Fi access is better managed than commercially provided public services. Evidence from the case studies suggests reluctant acceptance of filtering on the part of public library authorities, based on a perceived need to balance providing access to information with providing a safe and trusted public space for all.
Highlights
MAIPLE explored the ways in which public library services manage acceptable use of the fixed and wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet connections that they provide for the public
The focus of this article is on results relating to the provision of publicly accessible Wi-Fi Internet access services and it explores some of the similarities and differences in approach between public library and commercial provision of public Wi-Fi access in the UK
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Summary
MAIPLE explored the ways in which public library services manage acceptable use of the fixed and wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet connections that they provide for the public. MAIPLE aimed to identify and quantify measures implemented in UK public libraries to regulate and manage access to Internet content. One of the objectives of the MAIPLE project was to identify what, if anything, public library services can learn from commercial practice
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