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Wireless Networking: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians, Louise E. Alcorn and Maryellen Mott Allen. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2006.2001 p. $65 (ISBN 1-55570-478-6)

While there are many books and publications about setting up wireless networks, none of them have focused on library issues and needs. This book strives to do that. Both authors have extensive experience in making the migration from a wired network to a wireless environment. Alcorn serves as Reference Technology Librarian at West Des Moines (Iowa) Public Library and has published on Web Junction’s Technology Resources website (www.webjunction.org). Allen is the Coordinator of Instructional Services, University of South Florida Tampa Library.

Starting with a chapter on “Wireless Networking Basics,” Alcorn and Allen examine “wireless” going back to the Scottish physicist James Maxwell. Using well laid out graphics, charts, and sidebars, the electromagnetic spectrum is explained in easy to understand language with a clear explanation of vocabulary and scientific concepts. The rest of Chapter 1 examines how wireless networking works, what types are available, and the various standards that govern wireless.

Chapter 2 may be of the greatest value to those asking “Why Go Wireless?” Starting with a list of reasons to go wireless, the authors investigate the pros and cons of wired versus wireless. Using charts and brief case studies, clear arguments are made in support of going wireless. Case studies cover both academic and public libraries of various sizes. The authors conclude with the observation that the best reason to go wireless is “because your patrons have been asking for it.”

Planning for the Wi-Fi network is where many libraries find the most difficulty. The authors use the idea of “Who, What, When, Where, and How” to organize the process. The “Who” covers assigning responsibility and setting up communications with the necessary people. “What” focuses on the needs assessment. The authors include a sample document plus a list of questions that will need to be asked. Both will be useful to the technology planner. This may seem obvious but of equal importance is a timeline showing “When” things need to be done and by whom. Going into great detail in one area that may require external technical assistance, the authors examine how to do the site survey to help you decide “Where” to place access points and to understand any structural obstacles. A sample site survey is included as an appendix to the book. Reviewing all of your collected information and your budget gets you to the “How” of doing a Wi-Fi network. This includes examining and setting up policies for the use of the network. Several well written policies are included as examples. The last task the authors mention is marketing. This should have been done as a separate chapter. It does not get enough emphasis with it being examined on just four pages although it does include an excellent marketing checklist.

One of the toughest decisions the librarian in charge of a WLAN project will encounter is selecting and installing hardware. In order to simplify this task, the authors list ten questions that the project leader should ask her self before proceeding with purchase and installation. These cover network topology, separating public and staff networks, roaming issues, printing over the Wi-Fi network, wireless peripherals such as barcode scanners for staff use, lending laptops to users, interoperability of all equipment, finding certified Wi-Fi equipment, management of bandwidth and the network, and how will installation be handled. The authors then go into each question with detailed and very understandable explanations in non-technical language. There is one recommendation that could be disputed. In looking at laptops, after explaining about external Wi-Fi cards (NIC) that can be used with older laptops, they state, “External cards are not recommended, especially for laptops being circulated. In fact, given the choice, we’d recommend not having a laptop available at all unless you can get one with an internal NIC card.” In the opinion of the reviewer, it is better to have older laptops than none at all. Again, several well written case studies are included to illustrate approaches to the various questions.

Perhaps the most confusing and hardest part of managing a library wireless network is “Securing, Maintaining, and Troubleshooting…” it. The last chapter looks these issues using well documented case studies, screen shots, check lists, and sidebars to help make the security and maintenance issues understandable.

This guide includes much support materials including an excellent glossary of terms, resources for additional reading and help including works cited and additional resources pages, journal to watch, web sites and e-mail lists, and more. The most useful supplemental material is perhaps the section that includes sample policies and FAQs. Other sections include a list of manufacturers, a detailed look at Maricopa County (AZ) Library District Site Survey, and an index.

This book is a must purchase for any library that is considering installation of a wireless network. It will save many hours of work and aggravation.

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