This program was fascinating. Don would have loved it, I am sure. There were three speakers, the first being Kelvin Watson, Chief Innovation & Technology Director of the Queens (N.Y.) Public Library. Queens has developed a virtual library of digital access that keeps people using their tools, even after they leave the library and extends the library beyond its traditional walls. They have 5,000 (!!!) tablets that they loan for 1 month, with an option for 3 months of renewals. When they log in they are taken to the Queens Library Interface which has buffet browsing curated to the needs of the patron. Patrons are able to view training videos, browse events, make donations, and essentially access everything they would via the library website, but now through the tablet. The https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SofOEsh3BNUinternet is accessible, though they make it difficult, and it is filtered. There is less than 10% loss of these devices and 25% of them are loaned in conjunction with a mobile hot spot.
The next two presenters spoke on the same topic, the Library Whitespace Initiative, one of them working as the national team to implement, and the other from the Manhattan (Kansas) Public Library that is using the program. From what I am able to understand, long range wireless data communications is made possible using the free public spectrum that opened ups when TVs went digital. Essentially, wifi travels in the space between the TV signals (the whitespace). There are no towers, no wires, no carriers, no permissions, no monthly fees. Rather, this is like your local network, but over a wide area outside of your library. Like your TV, the waves can travel over small hills, through trees and buildings. There is more access in rural areas where the space between signals is greater. Think of our local stations. There are lots of them in LA, the Bay Area, and other major metropolitan areas. But, a town in Kansas most likely only gets the Topeka affiliate of NBC, ABC, etc. So, they have more "room" for this access.
Check out this youtube video to learn more:
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