Selecting a local area network for an academic environment

A local area network (LAN) connects computers, printers, modems and other devices located near each other, often in an office environment. The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at the University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee provides a case study of selecting and using a LAN in an academic program environment. Consideration of various types of LANs took place during the selection of a LAN for SLIS. The advantages of having a LAN at SLIS have been the sharing of printers and other devices, the use of electronic mail, improvement in office management and cooperative research, and easier access to information and files available in the school.