Wireless Internet at the Charles County Public Library!
July 1, 2005

Looking for a place to check your e-mail, surf the Net, or do last minute research? Use your wireless enabled device (laptop or PDA) to gain access to high-speed Internet for web browsing and email at the Charles County Public Library! Wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi) is now available for adults at your library. This service is provided FREE at all three branch locations through the generous partnership and assistance of Meridian Ventures, Inc. and Comcast Cable.

“It’s so much easier to use my laptop in the library while I’m taking notes from books. Instead of handwriting my notes, going home and re-typing them on my desktop computer, I can open a book and type my notes right on my laptop,” says library customer Matthew Edelen, a math tutor who also uses library resources for research.

Jim Lynn, President of local Waldorf consulting firm, Meridian Ventures, Inc. donated wireless access hardware and set-up expertise from Meridian’s Technical Services Division Manager, Steve McGrane.

Comcast Cable, Inc. is providing cable modems and Internet access for the library’s Wi-Fi Network. “Joe Lehan, Public Affairs Manager at Comcast, worked with the library to install cable modems and provide Internet access for our meeting rooms,” said. IT Librarian, Linda Gateau. “Working with Joe and Steve, we’re able to combine these two generous corporate gifts to provide reliable wireless Internet access for county residents.”

Library benefactor, Jim Lynn (l), President of Meridian Ventures, Inc., and Joey Rawlings (m), library IT Tech, demonstrate for Library board President Christopher Iekel (r) how easy it is to connect to the Internet on the Charles County Public Library’s new WiFi network, officially online July 1. (Photo taken in the adult area of the LaPlata Branch, Charles County Public Library.)

Although printing is not available using the Library's wireless connection, customers can access a printer by signing in to use one of the Library's many Public Internet workstations.

Charles County Public Library branches are located in LaPlata at 2 Garrett Ave. (301-934-9001, Waldorf at 50 Village St. behind Smallwood Village (301-645-2864), and Bryans Road at 3225 Ruth B Swann Dr near the park (301-375-7375). All branches are open: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Friday: 1:00p.m. -5:00 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Online Services include Reference by e-mail, real-time Ask-A-Librarian and 24-7 access to the online Cosmos Catalog to search for information materials, reserve an item or check your library card account information. Through the library web page www.ccplonline.org, customers can use their library card to access many subscription databases for authoritative information on topics from automotive, business, genealogy, health, to full-text articles from over 3,000 magazines and newspapers, including The Washington Post.