HomeMy WebLinkAbout13. Library WiFi
AGENDA MEMO
DATE:
February 8, 2011
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Office of the City Manager
By: Thad Phillips, Community Services Director
SUBJECT:APPROVE AND APPROPRIATE $18,740 FOR LIBRARY WIRELESS
INTERNET ACCESS (WiFi) AND FURNITURE FOR LIBRARY
COMPUTER LAB WiFi USERS
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council approve and appropriate $18,740 for Library Wireless Internet
Access (WiFi) and furniture for Library Computer Lab WiFi users.
DISCUSSION
Council Member Guerra requested staff investigate providing WiFi in the Library. The
cost estimate for six (6) access points that would cover all the public areas including the
Computer Lab. is $8,800. City staff would be responsible for configuring and setup of
the access points.
In addition to the installation of access points, staff also recommends upgrading the
existing T1 internet connection. Currently the Library is paying $465 monthly for a T1
internet connection of 1.5MB. To upgrade to a recommended T1 3MB the monthly cost
will be $700, a difference of $235 a month or $2,820 a year.The increased T1 internet
connection will allow for additional concurrent users as well as a faster connection to the
internet, making viewing videos and listening to music possible.
The library has relocated the current magazines to the main reading room and removed
the magazine shelving to allow for the new WiFi service in the computer lab. Staff
requests $9,000 to purchase tables and chairs for WiFi users in the computer lab.
The cost proposal is for a basic WiFi network with no authentication to the Library
Automation System (a library card is not required to access WiFi) and no security block
or filtering. However, for internal security, the City’s Information Technology Division
will segment the WiFi network from the public network where the Library Automation
System resides.
Library patrons who access the internet thorough the Library WiFi will first see a “splash
screen” that will display the Library’s Internet and Computer Use Policy. The current
policy for misuse of the Library’s internet access rules may result in loss of internet
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
privileges, loss of borrowing privileges, expulsion from the library or civil/criminal
prosecution. The City Attorney reports that there is no inherit liability to providing
unfiltered and unsecured internet access though the Library WiFi.
FISCAL IMPACT
Total request is $18,740 from the General Fund. $8,800 to provide Wireless Internet
Access (WiFi) in the library; $940 for current Fiscal Year to upgrade the T1 internet
connection to 3MB. $9,000 for tables and chairs for the computer lab.