Reading Room Wireless Project
In March 2007, The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) applied for a Technology Improvement Award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region (NNLM/MAR) for the purpose of setting up a wireless network in the Library’s Reading Room. In July 2007, the NNLM/MAR awarded $7,500 to the NYAM Library for this project.
The New York Academy of Medicine’s building was constructed in 1927 and, as such, is an old building full of cement and steel bars, making the installation of a wireless network extremely difficult. We are pleased to report that our installation was successful and the Library now has a completely wireless network.
Although it is difficult to formally evaluate the impact of having wireless internet access in the Library, we can say that our patrons are very pleased as it has made their research process much simpler. In the past, patrons would have to use the public workstations to search our catalog and databases and then enter their findings onto their laptops. Now this is a one-step process that can be accomplished on their laptops anywhere in the Library.
NYAM staff and visitors, in increasing numbers, are also using our wireless service. Mount Sinai students who will be using the NYAM Library while their library is renovated this summer were very happy to hear that wireless would be available to them here. The members of an evidence-based emergency medicine group that meets at NYAM each August were equally pleased when notified of our new wireless service.
The availability of wireless internet access has made a positive impact on service at The New York Academy of Medicine Library and we are most grateful to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine/Middle Atlantic Region for their financial support.
Yixiong Xu. The New York Academy of Medicine Library. New York, NY.
