Twenty Oglethorpe County residents can now bridge the digital divide because of a new grant.
The Athens Regional Library System received 160 T-Mobile hotspots through the state's Digital Connectivity Grant, which funds Wi-Fi hotspots and other devices for schools and libraries.
Oglethorpe County Library received 20 and is offering them for individuals to check out at no cost every two weeks.
As of Friday, 18 of the devices had been checked out, leaving two still available. Oglethorpe County circulation specialist Laura Lindsey said having internet access is important for everyday tasks, but some county residents still lack connectivity.
“I’m out in the country, and we don’t really have good access out there,” she said. “That’s the only way I can get it.”
Despite expanding broadband access, Lindsey and others depend on the library hotspots for in-home internet.
Residents can borrow the hotspots just like any library book.
Those with a library card can check out a hotspot two weeks at a time, with a required 24-hour break between consecutive checkouts.
The hotspots provide high-speed internet access, but restrict mature content, including selected YouTube videos and social media posts. This function ensures all devices are family-friendly and accessible for people of all ages, while allowing users to have access to essential and non-essential services.
Users can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, including laptops, phones, tablets and TVs, but internet speed may decrease with more connections.
“I’m glad I’ve got it at home because then you can have access to things when you need to, like (to) renew your driver’s license,” Lindsey said. “You can get on the sites and see what’s going on.”
Library branch manager Katherine Ratcliffe said the library previously offered two older models of the hotspots, which have been replaced with the more durable and efficient devices.
“Hopefully, these will go the distance, have longevity and help others for the next couple of years,” Ratcliffe said.
She also noted that more residents are visiting the library to obtain or reactivate library cards to have access to the hotspots.
The Digital Connectivity Grant also provides the library system with Chromebooks, which will make an appearance in the Oglethorpe County Library within three weeks. While the exact number of Chromebooks isn’t confirmed, the library anticipates receiving a similar number to the 15 that it received through previous grants.
These devices will also be available for checkout at no cost.