Beginning this spring, the Wellington County Library branches will provide the public with internet “hotspots.”
The new service is the result of an Ontario Libraries Capacity Fund Research and Innovation Grant in the amount of $157,000, awarded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
The library will be among the first libraries in North America to offer this service, joining such libraries as New York, Chicago and Kitchener.
“This is great way to further reach out to our community,” said Warden George Bridge.
“This will help those residents and families without high speed internet, and help students and adults further develop their digital skills and connect them with the resources they require.”
In 2012, a broadband project by Wellington County estimated 14 per cent of the county’s population did not have access to high speed internet.
The Wellington County Library program will provide patrons the ability to take a hotspot home for a maximum of seven days with unlimited access to the internet.
The library is planning to have about 70 hotspots available by the end of March.
“Every branch I walk into, every computer is being used all the time. That speaks volumes,” says Rob Black, chair of the Wellington County information, heritage and seniors committee, which oversees the library and museum.
“And with the library making more resources available online, this announcement is certainly welcome and timely News.”
Chief librarian Murray McCabe said, “Library staff and I are thrilled to be a recipient of this unique grant.
“This technology grant will further extend library service to county residents and reduce the digital divide between those living in rural Ontario and those living in major urban centres.
“This program will also compliment the library’s existing partnership with the Upper Grand District School Board that provides access to 70 Chromebooks throughout the county’s 14 libraries.”
