Apr 25, 2018
We’re partnering with the Saskatoon Food Bank to lend WiFi hotspots
We are helping bridge the digital divide by partnering with the Saskatoon Food Bank to lend WiFi hotspots to people without internet access at their homes.
The program kicked off on April 26, when SPL employees met with patrons who qualified for the program and sent them home a hotspot. Because there is a limited supply of hotspots available, the Food Bank asks interested patrons to fill out a short survey to determine eligibility for the program. There are a total of 40 hotspots available to be borrowed, and the loan period for each device is three months.
To be eligible for this program, patrons must be:
- Saskatoon residents
- At least 18 years old
- Have a valid library card
- Have a valid need for a hotspot in their home
While SPL offers free WiFi and public computers at all nine of their locations, this is only available during library hours. Lending hotspots will allow patrons to access the internet on computers and mobile devices within their own home, 24 hours a day.
Patrons who receive a hotspot will be asked to fill out a short survey so SPL can gauge how effective the program is during the six-month pilot phase. The service may expand or contract following the pilot phase depending on patron feedback and circulation statistics.