The Wellington County Library has received an American Library Association (ALA) Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects for its rural internet hotspot lending program.
The award was presented by ALA president Julie Todaro at the International Library Reception in Chicago, Illinois on June 26.
The hotspot lending program is a free initiative that allows Wellington County Library patrons to borrow Wi-Fi hotspots and access unlimited high-speed internet during the seven-day checkout period. It is a unique program in Canada focused specifically on improving access to high-speed internet in rural areas.
The award recognized the Wellington County Library for:
– supplying a unique free internet access service to rural residents who either cannot afford or access internet from their rural homes;
– generating great visibility through extensive media coverage; and
– leveraging resources and creating a cost-effective model for high-speed internet access service, which can be replicated by other library systems.
“Access to the internet is essential for students, job seekers and small business owners to succeed,” said Warden Dennis Lever. “The rural internet hotspot lending program is a great, free initiative that is helping to bridge the digital divide in Wellington County.”
The program is open to all Wellington County residents, and has been specifically targeted at students.
“This initiative is helping to ensure that students living in rural areas are not at a disadvantage,” said councillor Rob Black, chair of the county’s information, heritage and seniors committee.
“It is an innovative extension of the public computers and free Wi-Fi already available, and very popular, in Wellington County Library branches.”
The hotspot program is a two-year project funded by a grant from the Ontario Libraries Capacity Fund for Research and Innovation, made available by the Ministry of Tourism of Culture and Sport.
The program officially launched in March 2016 and will be funded until the end of February 2018. The grant has also allowed the Wellington County Library to introduce 70 iPads to its collection, and provide new digital literacy programs.
More information is available at wellington.ca/library.
