The Hershey Public Library is pleased to offer free wireless access for our patrons and guests. The questions below address some common issues. If you need further information, please don't hesitate to ask.
What do I need to connect my laptop to the Internet in the library ?
- A laptop, PDA or other device with built-in 802.11b/g wireless connectivity or wireless card
- A valid library card OR a visitor pass
- A PIN assigned to your account
Is there an access fee?
No way!
Where can I connect?
The wireless access point is at the reference desk, so the surrounding tables receive the strongest signal. However, our testing has shown that the signal is almost at full strength throughout the building.
Can I print from the wireless network?
Unfortunately, we do not offer printer from personal equipment. If you need to print, just transfer your material to a disk or USB drive and log in to one of the public computers.
How do I connect?
- Turn on your laptop or other device and verify that you are receiving a wireless signal. Some devices require that you switch on the wireless adaptor.
- Open a browser. Our network is compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Opera (and possibly others, but we don't have a MAC with which to test it)
- A log on screen will appear. Enter your 12 digit library card or visitor card number and PIN into the respective fields and click Enter.
- The browser will then launch the library's home page, from which you can access the rest of the Internet
What happens if I can't connect?
Here are some common problems and their solutions. Please note that library staff cannot assist you in modifying the settings on your computer. If you are unable to resolve the issue, refer to the documentation provided by your computer's manufacturer.
- Of course if you try everything and it turns out the wireless network is down, we'll restore wireless functionality as soon as possible.. If an error screen appears when you try to log in, verify that you entered the library card number correctly and that you entered the correct password.
- If "Page cannot be displayed" appears, verify that you have a wireless signal.
- If you have a connection, notify a library staff member to verify that the wireless connection is functioning correctly.
- Check to make sure that your device is not assigned to a specific IP address. Set the network adaptor to "obtain IP address automatically" and "obtain DNS server address automatically".
- If everything seems to be working ok, but you cannot access certain websites, this is likely due to the fact that the wireless connection is governed by the same firewall that monitors our other computers.
