Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.
Laptop computer owners will be able to access the Internet for free using wireless devices at Las Vegas-Clark County Library District branches in as little as two weeks.
On Thursday, the Library District's board approved a measure to bring wireless Internet access to 12 branches. The total cost of installing the equipment is about $25,000, Karen Bramwell Thomas, a spokeswoman for the district, said.
"It's about time," UNLV professor William Buchanan said Thursday as he left the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. A frequent user of the local libraries, Buchanan said he thought the public would be well served by the additional service.
Board members, who voted unanimously to approve the wireless access, agreed.
Elaine Sanchez, the board's chairwoman, said adding the service would help free up the hugely popular desktop computers already available at the libraries.
In December, library patrons made 133,712 online reservations to use the district's computers. And that figure does not count those users who signed up for computers in person.
"I can assure you that all residents will appreciate this," Sanchez said.
Beginning in two weeks, the libraries will be wired to allow up to 20 patrons at a time to connect to the Internet on their laptops. The service will be free. But after one hour the connection will be turned off.
Service is already available at the Clark County Library because that's where the district's technology department tested the system.
Lisa DeBruzzi, a visitor from Costa Mesa, Calif., was using the service Thursday to catch up on some work.
DeBruzzi, who is staying at the Tropicana hotel, said she decided to head to the library when she discovered that wireless access at the hotel costs $14.95 for 24 hours, she said.
She had considered going to a Starbucks, where wireless service is also often available. But in order to connect to the Internet there, computer users must have an account with a specific wireless service.
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