[OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals

Tue Feb 24 16:20:03 EST 2015

Hello all,

Thank you for bringing this up, Chad. It’s an important distinction to make. While we’re still waiting for clear guidance from IMLS on this point, I’ve discussed it with the State Data Coordinator and we both agree that everyone should go with the “device initiated” sessions when counting this statistic. Someone earlier in this message string mentioned that these connections are still using library resources. We agree with this point, and think it’s fair to count all connections to the wireless.

I think the resource from Colorado State Library that Joe shared is probably the most comprehensive one I’ve seen (this one: http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/public-libraries/strategies-tracking-reporting-wifi-usage/ ) but there is also this one from Michigan http://tln.lib.mi.us/dept/technology-services/wifi/files/techcomm/Best_Practices_for_Wireless_Statistics.pdf  if you’d like other ideas or points of view.

Please know that if you do have any other questions about the statewide statistics,  I and the rest of the State Library team are happy to help. That being said, we’re unable to change many of the definitions as they are set by the federal government. Bless their hearts, as they say in the South.

Also, I hate splash pages too ☺.

Take care,
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Mandy Knapp
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From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 3:28 PM
To: OPLINTECH
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals

At the IMLS link you provided, I found that exact same verbiage (minus the Note) for the 2014 definitions:  "#652  Wireless Sessions*  Report the number of wireless sessions provided by the library wireless service annually." The asterisk indicated that it was a new/revised (new) data element for 2014. 2015 isn't posted.

So, without any better clarification, I guess it's up to us to decide how to define that? So, I guess if you want to report really high numbers, go with "device initiated" sessions. If you want to report relatively lower numbers, go with "human initiated" sessions.

Suddenly, the usefulness of that stat across libraries just went through the floor.

______________________________
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer

Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools

On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 3:01 PM, Stephen Hedges <hedgesst at oplin.org<mailto:hedgesst at oplin.org>> wrote:
I don't think the feds have written their definition yet. They post those at http://www.imls.gov/research/pls_definitions.aspx.

You've probably already seen the instructions for the State Library survey: "Report the number of wireless sessions provided by
the library wireless service annually. Note: This includes services used in the parking lot, etc." That's all.

It's worth mentioning, since Chad has raised the money question a couple of times now, that managed Wi-Fi services are eligible for E-rate this year. See the 2015 Eligible Services List linked at http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/beforeyoubegin/eligible-services-list.aspx. (Skip to the 18th page)

Stephen
--
Stephen Hedges, Director
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43204
614-728-5250<tel:614-728-5250>  ::  hedgesst at oplin.org<mailto:hedgesst at oplin.org>

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chad Neeper" <cneeper at level9networks.com<mailto:cneeper at level9networks.com>>
> To: "OPLINTECH" <OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org<mailto:OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 2:42:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured       portals
>
> Certainly a useful stat to have, but unfortunately, it appears to put yet
> another financial burden on small libraries that don't have a capable IT
> person on staff to devise a method to reliably collect it. (Well, that could
> be a good thing for me, I suppose!)
>
> So if collecting this stat is really a Thing, does anyone (Steve?) know where
> I can go to get a little more official information on it? If it's going to
> be a federal requirement, then it would be nice to see the line-item that
> mentions it to try to discern what info is to be reported: ie.
> "human-initiated" or "device-initiated" connections. It would probably have
> an impact on the methods we use to collect the stat.
>
> Chad
> ______________________________
> Chad Neeper
> Senior Systems Engineer
>
> Level 9 Networks
> 740-548-8070<tel:740-548-8070> (voice)
> 866-214-6607<tel:866-214-6607> (fax)
>
> Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools
>
> On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Stephen Hedges < hedgesst at oplin.org<mailto:hedgesst at oplin.org> > wrote:
>
>
> OPLIN making Wi-Fi stats mandatory?
>
> Nah, this is part of the stats the State Library collects every year.
> Although I'll admit, that will be an extremely useful stat to have.
>
> As I understand it, this stat will be a federal requirement next year (most
> of the stats the State Library collects fulfill federal requirements), and
> SLO is asking for the stat this year to work out some kinks before the
> federal requirement kicks in. If that's correct, it sounds like a wise plan
> to me.
>
> Stephen
> --
> Stephen Hedges, Director
> Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
> 2323 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43204
> 614-728-5250<tel:614-728-5250> :: hedgesst at oplin.org<mailto:hedgesst at oplin.org>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ruchie Rice" < rrice at fcdlibrary.org<mailto:rrice at fcdlibrary.org> >
> > To: "OPLINTECH" < OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org<mailto:OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org> >
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 9:15:17 AM
> > Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured
> > portals
> >
> >
> >
> > I hadn’t heard of OPLIN making wi-fi stats mandatory. We used to use
> > Bluesocket which used to give us stats but we did away with it a couple of
> > years ago because the splash page was not working well with some devices.
> > We’d like to keep it that way. Also, we have nine wireless APs among 5
> > locations and would hate to have to spend money to get stats. If we could
> > use a DHCP solution that would work better for us.
> >
> >
> >
> > Also, since it is library using resources I agree that human and non-human
> > connections should count.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ruchie
> >
> > Information Technology Coordinator
> >
> > Fairfield County District Library
> >
> > 219 N. Broad St.
> >
> > Lancaster, OH 43130
> >
> >
> >
> > https://helpdesk.clcohio.org/
> >
> >
> >
> > “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working
> > together is success” – Henry Ford
> >
> >
> >
> > From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org>
> > [mailto: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org<mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org> ] On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
> > Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 3:52 PM
> > To: OPLINTECH
> > Subject: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello, OPLINTECH:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I've been hearing from some of my libraries that they're now going to be
> > required to annually report WiFi connection statistics starting with 2015.
> > Presently, other than one rogue, none of my libraries collect those stats.
> > Being small libraries with only one or two very simple access points, I'm
> > pretty sure that most of the devices they're using simply don't provide
> > stats on the number of individual network connections. One way to provide
> > the statistic would be to implement captive portals and require a human to
> > click "I accept" to an Acceptable Use Policy on a splash page whenever they
> > try to initiate a browsing session. The captive portal would likely provide
> > the required statistics. But it introduced some other questions:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 1) The state wants the number of WiFi connections....Are those supposed to
> > be
> > Human-initiated connections? When I walk into a library, my phone
> > automatically establishes a connection and refreshes itself with various
> > content, downloading my latest podcasts, synching my e-mail, etc. That's
> > the
> > behavior I want my phone to do, but I often don't want to open a browser
> > session and actually browse to a website on my phone. Sometimes I do, but
> > more often, I don't. So should those automatic connections count in the
> > stats? If so, then every single patron with a smart phone will likely get
> > counted, even if they're just driving by the library and come into range
> > for
> > a few seconds.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 2) If the state is only interested in the Human initiated connections, then
> > that would pretty much mandate a captured portal and require the click on
> > "I
> > accept" before a session is permitted. Personally, I hate WiFi hotspots
> > like
> > that because it interferes with the normal operation of my wireless device.
> > I also hate being forced to remember to open a browser and perform an
> > action
> > after I've tried to figure out for a few moments why my device isn't
> > connected properly. In the past, I've even run into locations that for
> > whatever reason the captive portal doesn't play nicely with my wireless
> > device and I'm just SoL.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 3) If I need to set up captive portals at each of my small libraries to
> > report this stat, should I bill the state directly? My libraries are
> > already
> > pretty strapped. ;-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 4) Does anyone collect this stat using software that isn't built into their
> > wireless access points and isn't a full "I accept" human-interaction
> > required captive portal?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Ideally, I'd have something that's:
> >
> >
> > - 3rd party software only solution independent of any particular vendor's
> > access points
> >
> >
> > - Open source
> >
> >
> > - Simple/turn-key (translates to cheap to implement for my small libraries)
> >
> >
> > - Doesn't prevent the normal background function of wifi devices when a
> > human
> > doesn't specifically want to use their browser
> >
> >
> > - Collects the number of wifi connections that's either human-initiated or
> > automatic, depending on which stat the state actually wants to know
> > (assuming the state even knows the difference)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I know people will probably reply with the names of their own captive
> > portals
> > or access point manufacturers/models that provide the stats. What are
> > others
> > planning to do now that this particular stat appears to be more required
> > and
> > what type of stats you're providing or plan to provide (all connections,
> > human-only, whatever)? As much as that, I'm just kind of curious where/if
> > this conversation thread goes.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Any comments or thoughts on this?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >
> > Chad
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________
> > Chad Neeper
> > Senior Systems Engineer
> >
> > Level 9 Networks
> > 740-548-8070 (voice)
> > 866-214-6607 (fax)
> >
> > Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and
> > schools
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OPLINTECH mailing list
> > OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org<mailto:OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>
> > http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> >
> >
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>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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