Menu
18/11/2004
British Library boasts London's largest WiFi hotspot
The British Library has launched wireless Internet connectivity in the public areas of its building at St Pancras.
The service offers wireless Internet access (WiFi) throughout the 11 reading rooms, the auditorium, the café and restaurant and the outdoor Piazza area.
The mainly indoor WiFi zone will allow the 3,000 visitors the Library receives each day to connect to the internet and access email using either their existing service provider or by using the Library's own pay-as-you-go service.
Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, said: “At the British Library we are continually exploring ways in which technology can help us to improve services to our users. All of us are more reliant than ever upon information and communications technology and we increasingly expect to be able to have access to that technology whenever and wherever we need it."
Building Zones, consultants in providing technology that changes the way people use buildings, were commissioned to conduct a user study with the aim of identifying the computing equipment that visitors were bringing to the Library and their needs for wireless Internet connectivity.
The study revealed that almost nine-out-of-10 visitors had a laptop; the average dwell-time in the building was six hours; but that many users were leaving the library to go to a nearby Internet café to access their email. Some 16% of the visitors used the library as a business centre.
The survey concluded that there was an overwhelming demand for the service. Email was the most requested application and visitors preferred to access this from their own equipment rather than a fixed terminal. Continued access to the British Library catalogue was also a requirement.
Building Zones partnered with The Cloud and Hewlett Packard (HP) to roll out the building infrastructure, network and user support services.
A trial service registered 1,200 sessions per week making The British Library central London 's most active, and largest, public WiFi hotspot.
The new wireless service is operated independently from the existing Library private network infrastructure, therefore ensuring there is no security risk to critical business applications and that the Library's private network is protected from laptop borne viruses or local hackers.
(SP/GMCG)
The service offers wireless Internet access (WiFi) throughout the 11 reading rooms, the auditorium, the café and restaurant and the outdoor Piazza area.
The mainly indoor WiFi zone will allow the 3,000 visitors the Library receives each day to connect to the internet and access email using either their existing service provider or by using the Library's own pay-as-you-go service.
Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, said: “At the British Library we are continually exploring ways in which technology can help us to improve services to our users. All of us are more reliant than ever upon information and communications technology and we increasingly expect to be able to have access to that technology whenever and wherever we need it."
Building Zones, consultants in providing technology that changes the way people use buildings, were commissioned to conduct a user study with the aim of identifying the computing equipment that visitors were bringing to the Library and their needs for wireless Internet connectivity.
The study revealed that almost nine-out-of-10 visitors had a laptop; the average dwell-time in the building was six hours; but that many users were leaving the library to go to a nearby Internet café to access their email. Some 16% of the visitors used the library as a business centre.
The survey concluded that there was an overwhelming demand for the service. Email was the most requested application and visitors preferred to access this from their own equipment rather than a fixed terminal. Continued access to the British Library catalogue was also a requirement.
Building Zones partnered with The Cloud and Hewlett Packard (HP) to roll out the building infrastructure, network and user support services.
A trial service registered 1,200 sessions per week making The British Library central London 's most active, and largest, public WiFi hotspot.
The new wireless service is operated independently from the existing Library private network infrastructure, therefore ensuring there is no security risk to critical business applications and that the Library's private network is protected from laptop borne viruses or local hackers.
(SP/GMCG)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 March 2012
Friends Reunited Set To Relaunch
The UK’s early social networking pioneer Friends Reunited is to re-launched. The service first began in 2000 with an aim to reunite old school friends and after an initial strong start the site was bought by ITV in 2005 for £175m, only to be sold four years for £25.6m to online publishing group Brightsolid.
Friends Reunited Set To Relaunch
The UK’s early social networking pioneer Friends Reunited is to re-launched. The service first began in 2000 with an aim to reunite old school friends and after an initial strong start the site was bought by ITV in 2005 for £175m, only to be sold four years for £25.6m to online publishing group Brightsolid.
23 July 2007
St Pancras fire closes roads
A number of buildings adjacent to the Midland Grand Hotel have been evacuated as a precaution due to a blaze in the building. The fire was reported at around noon today in the central London hotel which is situated over St Pancras station. No casualties have been reported, but Camden Town Hall and the British Library have been cleared.
St Pancras fire closes roads
A number of buildings adjacent to the Midland Grand Hotel have been evacuated as a precaution due to a blaze in the building. The fire was reported at around noon today in the central London hotel which is situated over St Pancras station. No casualties have been reported, but Camden Town Hall and the British Library have been cleared.
23 July 2010
Liverpool Celebrates £50m Library Refit
One of the biggest library redevelopments in the UK has been given the green light. After four years of planning, the 'PFI' contract for the £50m renovation of Liverpool Central Library was formally signed and immediately hailed as 'the best news this year' by Liverpool City Council.
Liverpool Celebrates £50m Library Refit
One of the biggest library redevelopments in the UK has been given the green light. After four years of planning, the 'PFI' contract for the £50m renovation of Liverpool Central Library was formally signed and immediately hailed as 'the best news this year' by Liverpool City Council.
07 September 2015
BBC Unveils Proposals For Its Future
The BBC has outlined its plans to become "more open and more distinctive" in the future. The proposals are said to herald "a fundamental change of approach for the Corporation", and will reveal how the broadcasters' services will adapt and change in order to meet audience needs for the next decade.
BBC Unveils Proposals For Its Future
The BBC has outlined its plans to become "more open and more distinctive" in the future. The proposals are said to herald "a fundamental change of approach for the Corporation", and will reveal how the broadcasters' services will adapt and change in order to meet audience needs for the next decade.
02 October 2012
Girl Struck By London Tube Train
A 12-year-old girl is in hospital after being hit by a tube train. The incident occurred during rush-hour at Brixton, south London. British Transport Police said: "BTP and Metropolitan Police officers attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at 8.40am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.
Girl Struck By London Tube Train
A 12-year-old girl is in hospital after being hit by a tube train. The incident occurred during rush-hour at Brixton, south London. British Transport Police said: "BTP and Metropolitan Police officers attended the incident, which was reported to BTP at 8.40am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
