By early next week, students studying in the Main Library will be able to log their computers onto wireless Internet anywhere on the first floor and on the second and fourth floors of the west wings.
The wireless Internet will be unveiled later this week as part of the university's wireless beta service, which means the service is still being tested.
"The old wireless was slower and not as secure," said Colleen Hyslop, associate director for systems and technical services for MSU Libraries.
"This is brand-new, state-of-the-art wireless. It's the same wireless technology installed in other places across campus," Hyslop said.
She added the push to put in wireless Internet partly comes from students' suggestions and also from working with the Academic Computing & Network Services.
Library officials also hope the wireless Internet will encourage students to bring their laptops, freeing up more of the library's computers.
For now, the wireless Internet option only services the library, but university officials say they hope to have wireless access in the Union, conference rooms, classrooms and other places on campus in the next couple of years.
"We want to get wireless into a lot of places where people gather and study," said David Gift, vice provost of Libraries, Computing and Technology.
Gift said there has been high interest in wireless for all buildings on campus.
"The major benefit is the convenience of not having to find a network jack," Gift said.
He also said putting in the wireless will be easier and cheaper in some buildings than in others because of the way they are built, and officials are not sure what the total cost will be.
"The cost depends a great deal on the space that's being covered," Gift said. "A building that's framed with steel doesn't permit wireless as much, so that's part of the space equation."
Richard Wiggins, MSU senior information technologist, said all students will need to get wireless Internet is have a network card in their computer and sign on.
If they are in the library and have any questions, Hyslop said there will be library staff on the west wing of the fourth floor to help students.
Hyslop said they also are trying to get wireless Internet into other parts of the library next year.
