Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Wireless service is now available at the Warsaw Community Public Library at no charge to the public.
This allows people with their own wireless network device - commonly a laptop computer - to access the library's fast Internet connection.
Patrons will need a wireless "card" or a WiFi compliant 802.11b or 802.11a device installed on their network-ready equipment.
During Monday's board of trustees meeting, board members went to the fiction paperbacks area on the main floor of the library to see a demonstration of the wireless network with Greg Cripe, WCPL's network manager.
Currently, the best access is in the fiction paperbacks area and the study carrels along the north wall in that area. Electrical outlets are available at the carrels.
Cripe said he expects business people and college students will get the most use out of the service. Users must agree to the library's Internet and Computer Usage Policy, but they do not have to have a library card. An information sheet will be provided to users, who will be expected to access the system on their own, without help from staffers.
Board member John Yingling brought his own laptop and easily accessed the Internet, which is separate from the library's network. He said the signal is fairly restricted to this one area, and that no one can access the system sitting in the parking lot, for example.
Back in the meeting room, library director Ann Zydek compared WCPL statistics with other public libraries in the United States and in other countries. She found the figures on the state library Web site.
She noted the library has a collection that is well used by the community.
Like last year, the property tax distributions are expected to be delayed. She anticipates the regular June money to come in August. Because of that, she suggested to the board they establish a foundation.
"Public libraries in 29 other countries lean heavier toward donations, grants and service fees," she said. "Public libraries tied to public funds are having hard times."
A public hearing will be set in April to review the 2005-2007 capital projects plan: approximately $200,000 for capital improvements, $55,000 for repairs and $70,000 for computers.
Assistant librarian Joni Brookins said one possible computer program could be the installation of a self-checkout system, which could be used for books.
Final approval for a capital projects plan is given by the Kosciusko County council.
Business manager Renee Sweeney said the county option income tax disbursement will be even less than she expected - $41,000 instead of $47,000. She said the final 2003 tax check arrived last Friday.
Because of the two-month delay, she doesn't anticipate a cut in hours like last year, but a spending freeze may have to be applied to supplies and collections again.
In other business:
• The board heard that total circulation for February was 40,756 items, compared to 41,885 last February, and 20,482 in 1994.
• The 1,000 Book Club has 102 participants.
• A total of 9,659 reference questions were answered in February.
WCPL board of trustees members are: Larry Chamberlain, Joel Curry, Mark Morrison, Paulette Sauders and John Yingling. Tony Etienne and Ruth Jones were absent.
