Thanks to generous memorial donations, public wireless networks have now been set up at each of the Susquehanna County libraries: Forest City, Hallstead-Great Bend, Montrose, and Susquehanna. Anyone who has a wireless-equipped laptop computer can get a slip of paper with an encryption code (for security) at the front desk. The network name is "ask_librarian_for_key" so that surfers will know what to do!

801.11B and G, the two most common wireless standards, are supported (if you don’t know what that means, you don't have to worry about it). Setup is the same at all 4 libraries, so once you've entered the information, you can take your laptop to any other location and get right on. (The security key will be changed periodically, however.)

"We are finding that more and more travelers have laptops and appreciate this service," says Systems Librarian Hilary Caws-Elwitt. "The technology is now very affordable and it's a natural extension of the wired services we already offered." Please contact Hilary with any questions or problems: 570-278-1881 or sctylibrary@stny.rr.com.