Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey Public Libraries - where has the wifi service gone?
Crouch End library stopped broadcasting its free wifi over two weeks ago. Front desk staff seem to have no idea why... or if/when the service is going to be reinstated.
Apparently this is a borough-wide problem - in other words, there's currently no library wifi ANYWHERE in Haringey!
Seems astonishing that in 2014 this kind of technical problem can take so long to address. And one wonders how it was allowed to occur in the first place.
Anybody out there able to shed any light on the issue?
Chris
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adam on
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I asked in the Marcus Garvey yesterday and it has been down since 16th April. No they could not provide a date when it would be back. I was not very good before and used to crash two or three times a day but to not be able to fix it quickly is ridiculous.
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We’re very sorry we cannot currently offer a public Wi-Fi service.
This is primarily the result of the closing down of Lifestyle IT, the company providing our Wi-Fi service, at short notice.
We are exploring several options to reinstate a service as quickly as possible and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Jonathan Cowley - Wood Green Central Library
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Thanks for coming back with information on this Jonathan.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Interesting that the Council's website has less information and that councillors have none at all.
Just to be clear, that is not in any way a criticism of Jonathan Cowley.
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I raised this with Haringey Libraries staff. David Murray, Interim Head of Libraries phoned me - even though he's on leave. (So special thanks to him!) Mr Murray explained that the company which provided their wifi - and for some other Councils too - gave Haringey very short notice. So staff in Libraries have been working closely with the Council's IT people about how soon they could provide an alternative.
They're hopeful this will be in place by the end of May.
I explained that I was most worried about library users who rely on the Wifi for studying; or for important practical matters such as job applications, "bidding" for housing etc. Mr Murray said that the computer terminals were available as usual. (Though busier.)
I asked him to ensure that there was information about the problem - and the solution! - on the Council's website. (He thought there is. But I've not been able to find it.) Also that current councillors are briefed in case residents contact us in the next ten days asking about this.
This prompt response by Mr Murray is very encouraging. Our libraries are a success story and one of the "can-do" parts of the Council. Safeguarding them is one of the few things on which I agree with the Muswell Hill Kobertories. (Which makes it even stranger that they plan to demolish Coombes Croft Library in North Tottenham. Presumably as part of their fawning on Tottenham Hotspur.)
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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It is good to get the information but talking about the end of May? How can it take six weeks to sort out something as simple as a wifi connection? If this was a company they would have it sorted in a couple of days. The fixed computers have an internet connection, why not get their ISP to plug in the routers to their network? At least for a temporary solution whilst they no doubt have to go through a bidding process for the contract.
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Wouldn't allowing anyone to access to council network open it to security risks? Also, as it's public money they have to go through a procurement process for a new provider, something the public sector don't have to do. Annoyingly slow I agree but it's the law.
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It is not the council's network. It is the network of computers for public use which still have internet connection. I am sure it is possible as an interim solution.
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Sorry Adam. Misread your post.
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Here's an update councillors got from from Stephen McDonnell the Assistant Director Environment Services & Community Safety. It confirms the end of May for resumption of the Libraries WiFi.
I assume it's in response to my suggestion to David Murray, that councillors were told. (As you may have spotted. they've returned to an older name for these services. One one which residents might actually understand.)
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From: McDonnell Stephen
Sent: 14 May 2014 13:59
To: Haringey councillors
Subject: Wifi in libraries
Dear Councillor
I am writing to let you know about the current situation in our libraries regarding wi-fi access. Unfortunately, the library service cannot currently offer a public wi-fi service. This is primarily the result of the closure of Lifestyle IT, the company providing the service, who gave the council very little notice of its closure.
We’ve now agreed a replacement for the service and this will be implemented by the end of May. Customers using libraries are still able to access the public PCs in all libraries and library staff are also happy to help
customers if there are any specific issues.I appreciate the impact this disruption is having on our service and our customers, and we will continue to work as fast as possible to resume normal service.
Thank you.
Regards,
Stephen McDonnell
Assistant Director Environmental Services & Community Safety
Haringey Council
River Park House, 225 High Road, London N22 8HQ
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I hope the new service in the Marcus Garvey will not be normal but an improvement of what was on offer before with the service crashing two or three times a day & the signal not being available in the quiet study area. The only place you could previously get a signal was close to the children's library & although it might be a pleasant tune, listening to "the wheels on the bus go round & round" is not an aid to concentration.
If the replacement has been agreed how come it is taking so long to implement? It is not an advanced bit of engineering to set up a WiFi network in 2014. I hope the contract agreed is on business terms that and outage will be dealt with within hours & not days or weeks. You might gather I am not overly impressed with the situation and only hope the is a major improvement in the service that is provided.
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