GSC'S ROBERT F. KIDD LIBRARY GOES WIRELESS - Baker Says System Offers Flexibility

(03/08/2004)
The Glenville State College Robert F. Kidd Library became the first location in Glenville to have wireless broadband Internet access, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, and the Virtual Educational Resource Information Zone - On-line Network project.

"This is an exciting time for Glenville State College and Gilmer County," stated GSC President Robert N. Freeman. "R.F.K. Library is only the first of many future "hot spots" throughout the city which we hope will have wireless connectivity."

"This will give us an added mobility when planning renovations to the Robert F. Kidd Research Library," said Larry Baker, Associate Vice President of Technology at GSC. "Without the worry of where computer stations can be set up to use the Internet, we'll be afforded great flexibility in layouts of the building."

Baker, a Calhoun resident and former Calhoun Schools employee, has been instrumental in helping move the wireless project along.

Patrons of the library will now be able to use wireless laptops and other wireless devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs, to connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi technologies from anywhere within the building.

The new wireless Internet capabilities will also add an advantage to the upcoming renovation of R.F.K. Library. With renovations scheduled for this summer, the wireless capabilities will open up layout options for the research facility.

The project, which is sponsored by GSC and the Gilmer County Economic Development Association (GCEDA) will also provide wireless broadband Internet access to the Gilmer County Public Library. The public library's connectivity should be complete within the next few weeks.