Jan 10, 2008
Even if you are overseas in a foreign land, you will often find that a local library offers a free-of-charge way to go online
Following a recent car trip, when I passed through small cities and made use of a free computer in local libraries, I am reminded that the public library is a key to such use not simply within the United States but abroad. Numerous friends have confirmed that on their own recent trips to international places, they sought out a local library and found that it had at least one computer linked to the internet, which they were able to use free-of-charge. And they had no difficulty using it even though they had no library card for that location.
How do you find a local library? You ask the tourist office for specifics. And why, in this era of wi-fi in hotels and at airports, should you be concerned with finding a free service? Because a usual minimum charge for wi-fi, wherever you are, is $1 a minute -- and that adds up. While cybercafes are remarkably convenient, they also come with a price tag at least as high as $1 a minute.
So to check in occasionally with work, keep up with the news, or Skype your friends and families (2.4¢ a minute to a traditional phone number), go to the public library.
Write and read comments about this post.
How do you find a local library? You ask the tourist office for specifics. And why, in this era of wi-fi in hotels and at airports, should you be concerned with finding a free service? Because a usual minimum charge for wi-fi, wherever you are, is $1 a minute -- and that adds up. While cybercafes are remarkably convenient, they also come with a price tag at least as high as $1 a minute.
So to check in occasionally with work, keep up with the news, or Skype your friends and families (2.4¢ a minute to a traditional phone number), go to the public library.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: communication, tips

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