Public Phone now offered at Baker County Public Library
By Braden Way on Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – The Baker County Public Library has resumed offering a public telephone for the community. The phone, under a bright blue hood, is located near the Resort Street entrance to the library’s north parking lot.
The new phone allows local and long-distance outbound calls for up to 20 minutes for no fee, made possible by voice over internet protocol services. The phone is of industrial-grade construction for protection against inclement weather and potential vandalism.
The library’s general fund covered the $2,200 start-up cost. The library is paying $25 a month for the VoIP subscription. VoIP uses computer technology to make calls through the library’s internet connection instead of a mobile network or a landline.
The library placed the phone outside to offer callers more privacy than was possible with the former phone in the lobby. It will also avoid distractions for library users sometimes experienced with telephone users who speak loudly.
