Software, Peripheral Devices, and Networks in libraries

I visited a branch of my local public library in Cobb County at Vinings. It is my understanding that public access computers throughout this library system have a similar collection of software on their public access computers. The computers are networked together, and require a user ID and password to access. I was unable to ascertain whether the software was locally installed on the computer terminals, or if a server supported it. The software was largely dedicated to supporting web browsing, as well as some desktop publishing.

Software

Internet Explorer – The ubiquitous web browser available on all Windows PCs was present here, and the default homepage was set to the library’s site. It is meant to browse content on the World Wide Web.

Mozilla Firefox – Firefox is another web browser that provides access to webpages. Its default homepage was the Google front page, rather than the library’s website.

Adobe Reader –Reader is program that is dedicated to viewing a proprietary file format from Adobe called PDF. It allows the user to view or print a file, but it only allows certain types of editing to those documents, such as annotation.

Microsoft Word – Word was the only program on this computer other than the aforementioned web software that included an icon on the desktop at login (excepting the trash bin). This publishing software is for creating text documents with a number of formatting options. It is included in a suite of Microsoft Office software.

Microsoft Excel – A spreadsheet program that can use embedded tools for calculation and creating graphs. It also comes with many formatting and template options.

Microsoft PowerPoint – PowerPoint is presentation software that creates slides with visual content. Not only can you create the slides with multiple visual elements and text, but you can also use it full screen during the presentation itself.

Microsoft Publisher – Publisher is a creative desktop publishing program to make freeform design content. It has a variety of tools that let the user import different file types and layer the elements on a single document.

Notepad – Notepad is a text editing program like Word, but its formatting options are much more limited.

Windows Media Player – A media player made with Windows supported media in mind. It can be used to play video files, audio files, or to view images.

The public access computers at the library had a very basic set of software. But as more and more web applications start to replace dedicated software, it could be argued that the most essential piece of software is a web browser. With this in mind, it may be a good idea for the library to load the Google Chrome browser to its computers, as another access point to the web.

Peripheral Devices

2 Laser printers – The laser printers are output devices that are connected to all of the public access computers over a network. These printers only print in black and white. There was no color printing option at the library. The printers are also connected to a print management system, where it is necessary to prepay for all print jobs. The cost is 15 cents per page.

1 Scanner – The scanner is an input device that makes it possible to scan images of documents and import them to the computer in a digital format. The scanner is networked to all of the public access computers, but it did not cost any money to operate. There is a desktop program that allowed you to access the scanner and operate it once the document had been loaded.

            The public library is an important place for people without access to computers at home to be able to use devices that would not otherwise be available to them. This is especially true of the ability to print, as maintaining a printer and paying for printing supplies can be costly, even if you only use it occasionally. For people to be able to print documents at a low cost as the need arises is a valuable public service. Scanners have a similar cost/benefit relationship. It is rare to need a scanner in a world where most content is digitally native, but that does not mean it isn’t necessary occasionally. It is much more cost effective for the library to assume this cost, and give access to this technology to a wider swath of the population.

            One thing I noticed while I was at the library is that the public access computers did not have speakers. It seems obvious that this would be necessary in a quiet environment, and some patrons had brought headphones in so they could listen to the content they were viewing. But I think it would be nice if the library had headphones available for patrons who did not bring their own. It would be easy enough to check them out like some other library material, and then return them when you are done.

Internet Service Provider

            When it comes to wired providers of broadband internet service, there are not really many choices you can make where I live. There are two companies that offer service as ISPs, and they are companies that primarily exist to offer services other than the internet.

            The first company is Comcast, which is the only provider of cable television in my area. They also offer an internet connection over their broadband coaxial lines. Comcast bundles their services in order to get a larger share of your telecommunication consumption, and the more you purchase from them, the lower the cost for the internet portion becomes. They also offer a number of speeds, ranging from download speeds of 3 Mbps to 105 Mbps. The cheapest offer they have is $19.99 per month, while the most expensive is $89.99. To operate their service you need a modem that is compatible with their network, which they can rent to you, or you can buy yourself. A technician must come to your location to activate the service.

            The second company is AT&T, which is the primary telephone company. Their internet offering is a DSL line that must be installed in addition to any pre-existing phone lines. AT&T also bundles their services for better values at higher price points, and just as Comcast has begun offering VOIP telephone service, AT&T is offering television through their U-verse product. Prices range from $29.95 per month for 3 Mbps to $64.95 per month for 45 Mbps. AT&T provides a “Wireless Gateway” device that makes access to the internet possible, and they also require a technician to install it.

            So what other ISPs are available other than the two telecom giants? Well, there are dial-up subscription services, but those speeds are barely able to keep up with the data generated by web browsing. That also requires a working phone line, so you would still need to pay AT&T to gain access. If you want to avoid those companies altogether, you would have to opt for a wireless internet provider. In this case, I will use Verizon as the example.

            Verizon is a wireless operator that primarily contracts service for cell phones. However, the majority of cell phones now operate as wireless computers, and they use the signal from the wireless company as their ISP. It is also now possible to get certain mobile devices, like an iPad, with pre-installed wireless receivers that can also access this service. One must have a device that is compatible with Verizon’s network, as well as a phone line contract with the company. After that, you pay a certain rate per device that you want to be able to access the internet, as well as a rate for the amount of data you have access to. The charges for data can range from $15 for 250 MBs per month to $375 for 50 GBs per month.