All Existing Hotspots Due 9/30/2023

Hello, faithful library patron.

This message is to inform you that on September 30, 2023, funding for our long-term and short-term hotspot lending program will run out.

The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) was initiated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help close the homework gap during the Covid pandemic. We are grateful that we had this opportunity to help hundreds of patrons lacking connectivity at home.

This means that service on all existing hotspots will be turned off on September 30, 2023. All existing hotspots are due back to the library by that date. Hotspots can be returned to any library location. Please hand them to a staff member and do not put hotspots in the book drop. You will start to see changes and restrictions on due dates and checkouts soon, and patrons will no longer have the ability to place requests on these devices.

The library hopes to continue lending hotspots for 14-day checkouts after the Emergency Connectivity Fund ends, on a reduced basis, as our budget allows. For those devices, there will be no application other than putting one on hold. We will provide more information in late September for more information about these devices. We will also be pursuing additional grant opportunities, as they arise.

Patrons are encouraged to apply for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides up to a $30 discount on your monthly internet bill, as well as a $100 discount for a qualifying device (phone, laptop, tablet, etc.): https://www.getinternet.gov/apply.

We appreciate your support of the library. Thank you for participating in this program.