A two month trial of free wireless internet is underway at five City
libraries in Glebe, Customs House, Newtown, Ultimo and Haymarket.
Wireless internet technology, or Wi-Fi, enables adequately equipped
computers to connect to the Internet without a phone line. The
connection can be made publicly available through access points known
as "hotspots". The City's trial is providing library hotspots of about
25 square metres.
The trial is being provided by internet service provider, Unwired, the
only company that currently provides Wi-Fi with no cost to the user
and without large advertising panels. The trial will also enable
Unwired to test the service in public libraries. While Wi-Fi is common
in public libraries in Europe, it is not used in Australian libraries.
The initial response to the service has been positive. An evaluation
of the trial will include the numbers of people using the service and
user feedback. If the trial proves to be a success, the City will
consider permanent introduction of hotspots in City libraries.
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library/Branches/
The Ultimo Society
http://www.cityrags.org.au/
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