Dallas Plans to kill wifi@libraries whn branch not open-should cities offer free wifi

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Sounds like city hall trying to save a couple bucks in the wrong way. (trying to keep it non-political)
Expect other cities to do this.
(also they will be posting signs no parking in the library parking lot when closed-even if there is a nice green area/park next to the library)

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

Sounds like city hall trying to save a couple bucks in the wrong way. (trying to keep it non-political)
Expect other cities to do this.

Why do you consider that the wrong way to save money? Do you leave unnecessary utilities on when you're not at home?

[Jeff_Green]

What's wrong with this? Don't like it, get your own internet or go to McDonalds and buy something and use theirs. This seems like yet another attempt to make government the bad guy again... I guess we should expect it.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

What's wrong with this? Don't like it, get your own internet or go to McDonalds and buy something and use theirs. This seems like yet another attempt to make government the bad guy again... I guess we should expect it.

I agree. Panera Breads has free wifi.

[johnastovall]

I fail to see the problem. If branch is closed why would you be in the library anyway?

[LuckyDucker]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

Sounds like city hall trying to save a couple bucks in the wrong way. (trying to keep it non-political)
Expect other cities to do this.

I heard they're going to turn the lights out too!

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by LuckyDucker

I heard they're going to turn the lights out too!

[DSL_PWR]

Take away the bird feeder and the free loaders, uh, I mean birds, go away...

[janikphoto]

I guess the question is what the purpose of the wifi is to begin with...

If it was set up so that guests could use it while at the library, it makes sense to shut it down when they are closed.

If it was set up so that the under-privileged could always have access to the internet, well, then it is a bad idea to shut it down.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Dallas Wifi at the libraries covers about a 100ft range outside of the library-many people use it.

I have an internet connection at home- DSL ATT which even gives me access at Starbucks and MacDonalds- but some people who may be looking for work do go to the library on mondays (when the branch is closed near me) and set out on the benches or in their cars and use it.

Really the power used to run that WiFi is in the range of less than a $1 a week and since the whole Dallas Library System is on their own pipeline the access cost is nill if it is on so the cost savings would be maybe $500 a year system wide, they can waste that much power or more in one branch by having their thermostats at 70 instead of 74-btw they don't turn off the air overnight to save $$ or for the 2 days that the branch is closed.

If I'm on the road many times in small towns the only public wifi is outside of the area library.

[Jeff_Green]

I would have a hard time believing less than $1 a week. I am guessing they have more than one wireless antenna in a library along with the router being on. As to turning the A/C off during close of "business", they would be stupid to do that! Condensation build up due to heating up and cooling down in a building full of books is just asking for trouble. I guarantee that they do have the A/C adjusted for end of the day and probably have it monitored from a central location.

If someone is looking for work, there are many options available including the Texas Workforce Commission. How is this even an issue?

[Carl Stone]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

Sounds like city hall trying to save a couple bucks in the wrong way. (trying to keep it non-political)
Expect other cities to do this.

I suppose that this is not the place to ask if free wifi is a right.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Austin and New Orleans have free wifi in their central city districts.

[Nocturnus]

So, do you have your wireless at home unsecured so everyone around you can use it? To me I see it as a security issue. I wouldn't want to have open/semi-open access so that anyone can drive up and do whatever. It's a service the library uses for the people who are there, not the people who sit in the parking lot at night.

But that's just me.

[Carl Stone]

Originally Posted by Nocturnus

So, do you have your wireless at home unsecured so everyone around you can use it? To me I see it as a security issue. I wouldn't want to have open/semi-open access so that anyone can drive up and do whatever. It's a service the library uses for the people who are there, not the people who sit in the parking lot at night.

But that's just me.

Anyone is allowed to use my home wifi, as long as their MAC address is in my router.