[June 14, 2009] WiFi a big draw for Eva Library Tweet EVA, Jun 14, 2009 (The Decatur Daily - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Fifteen-year-old twins Todd and Tyler Hormel don't do everything together. Todd plays baseball. Tyler, a saxophonist, is considering the band. Although the Brewer High School sophomores don't always arrive at the same time, their faces are familiar at the Eva Public Library. The Hormels join others who are consistent in coming to the library for research and reading pleasure. They're also among a growing number who arrive in the parking area during the library's off hours to access WiFi from their laptops. WiFi is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. Technicians installed the computer in March after state Rep. Jeremy Oden, R-Eva, secured a $20,000 Community Service Grant. The library used part of the funding for four laptops. "We've had almost 16,000 hits from March to the first week in June," said Athelia Gibbs, library director. "Compared to the same period a year ago, our attendance is up 33 percent and our circulation is up 25 percent." Attendance, she explained, includes everyone walking into the library, whether they check items out or only use the computer. Circulation includes all items checked out from inside the library. "The total hits include those from patrons who use their laptops to access WiFi from the parking lot," she said. "WiFi goes down about 11 p.m. and is back up at 5 a.m., seven days a week. The Town Council requested those hours to prevent gatherings in the parking lot." She said there are some areas in Eva that can't get high speed Internet. "They only have dial-up at home, so they come to the parking lot to access the library," she said. "For example, they can do job searches, fill out job applications and research health information." Eric Hunt, co-owner of Smartfox Solutions, said his company created the software for the WiFi access point. "We put in a firewall in the computer that allows cardholders to access free Internet services provided by the library," he said. "Those who come in and don't have a computer at home are able to access the same sources." Laptops in parking lot Hunt said the reason patrons bring their laptops to the parking lot during off hours is because WiFi only has about a 200-foot radius outside the building. "When I was small," Todd Hormel said, "I liked coming to the library for the summer-reading program. It's fun to come here when you're older and work on school reports." Tyler likes the library WiFi because the Internet, he said, is faster than at home. Library hours Eva Public Library is open Monday, 3 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 2 to 5 p.m., and Thursday, 2 to 6 p.m. Patrons can access the library's WiFi Internet service from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. RONNIE THOMAS To see more of The Decatur Daily, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.decaturdaily.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Decatur Daily, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]