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| Library leads coordination of campus approach to wireless networking: technology’s not the problem! |
| Presentation Time: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. - 4:21 p.m. |
| Nancy T. Lombardo, Systems Librarians, Systems, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, Salt Lake City, UT ; Wayne P. Peay, Library Director, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, Library Administration, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT ; John C. Bramble, Reference Librarian, Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, Public Services, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT ; |
Background: Because of the unique qualities and inherent security challenges of wireless networking, this campus, led by the Health Sciences Library (HSL), worked to coordinate implementation in order to provide uniform, secure, high-quality service across the campus.
Setting: The HSL took a leadership role in the coordination of wireless campus network implementation to ensure a service-oriented approach.
Method: Spring of 2000, the HSL invited members of several campus information technology (IT) groups, the main library, and the Institutional Security Office to form a Wireless Network Group (WNG) to hammer out the details of implementing a wireless network across the campus. Library faculty believed it would be important for the campus to deliver uniform wireless services, securely. Despite a long-standing tradition of distributed control of the campus network, the participation in the WNG was enthusiastic. All members agreed that coordination was crucial due to the nature of this emerging technology. Documents available from two universities undergoing similar challenges were reviewed. The group met monthly to make decisions regarding the following issues:
• installation of wireless network services
• campus wireless network policy
• authentication services
• frequency allocation coordination
• secure access to services
• roaming
• hardware recommendations
• other services
• central information site
• handheld technologies
Main Results: The efforts of the WNG were highly successful. This campus now has an official Wireless Network Policy. A single authentication scheme allows users to follow the same login procedures across campus. The registration and allocation of frequencies for all wireless access points on campus are centrally coordinated. Secure connections can be made using the campus VPN. A central information Website provides policy details, hardware recommendations, and user assistance. Some wireless issues are still under discussion, including roaming and handheld technologies.
Conclusion: With the ongoing collaboration of librarians and campus IT administrators, a wireless network can be formed to allow for low cost, low maintenance systems while providing a secure, convenient, and quality service for the purpose of furthering the university's mission. |
| Nancy Lombardo is the systems librarian at the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library. She is responsible for coordinating technology in the library and managing the library's digital video studio. She also teaches technology-related classes and works on special projects for the library. Her special projects include implementing a library wireless network and digital video broadcasting, experimenting with videoconferencing, and organizing an international document delivery service. |
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