:: Found on Hilary's site:
- Seattle's new Central Library, opening in May, 2004, is truly on the cutting edge of technology these days. In addition to wireless service available anywhere in the 11-story building, staff will use wireless "smart" communication devices a la Star Trek:
To be able to provide reference service from anywhere in a library would be interesting. We wouldn't be restricted to the information desk area when answering a question by phone, and we could move about the floors of the building without losing contact with a customer.
You just gave me one more reason to love Seattle. That's awesome.
Posted by: kelly at March 4, 2004 05:51 PMThe U of Kentucky had phones with wireless headsets for in the reference area when their new main library opened in 1998. They were intended for the librarians to use while at the desk--a question that required the consultation of a work that was not at the desk but in the reference collection, a good 50 feet away, would not require a callback. The headsets were not used, however; a callback is much more professional than having to listen to a librarian hoof it over to the ref stacks and find the right book... "Hang on, passing the J's now... almost there... let's see... M... a-ha, the P's... PA... PN... PR... PS!"
Posted by: cindi at March 15, 2004 01:17 PMActually, you ought to see if they are tracking devices. I bet that they have this capability. Some hospitals are forcing nurses to wear similar devices so when it all hits the fan, they can prove to the lawyers and insurance companies that Peggy Sue the nurse wasn't sleeping in the break room for x number of hours.
Posted by: brock at April 6, 2005 07:32 AM