[Web4lib] wifi filtering in joint-use libraries

[Michael McDonnell]

Laura Crossett wrote:
> Whilst the rest of you debate the Deweyless nature of the Maricopa
> library, I am pondering the complications of wireless internet access
> in joint use libraries and am hoping that perhaps someone out there
> has a brilliant solution for us.
>
> Here's the deal: we're a joint school/public library, located inside a
> school building.  We use the school's internet connection, but our
> computers are free of the school's filtering software (yay).  At the
> moment, though, the wireless access is filtered, since we can't think
> of a good way to make it unfiltered in the library while keeping
> school wireless access filtered.
>
> I've got several people contemplating this problem, but as we haven't
> yet come to a really good solution, I also thought I'd ask around.
Hi Laura,

You have stated the problem as wanting to make the wireless unfiltered 
in the library, and filtered in the school.  Assuming you have more than 
one wireless access point, you would configure them to have different 
names (and channel numbers) and make the school's filtered.  If you want 
to prevent the library's wireless access point from being available in 
the school you could reduce your signal strength or buy a directional 
antenna and make sure that it points away from the school area but 
toward areas in the library.  Neither of those are sure-fire solutions 
though.

If you redefine the problem to be "to provide students with filtered web 
access and provide other library users with non-filtered web access" 
then a workable solution would look like this:  setup a proxy server and 
require that all wifi web access go through the proxy.  Require that 
users must authenticate to use the proxy.  Setup the proxy so that 
students access is further sent through your filters (assuming your 
filter is itself like a proxy... if it is actually a desktop application 
then you are out of luck).

--
Michael