DALLAS — A new initiative by the Dallas Public Library will soon allow residents to gain access to the internet at home.
According to a news release, 10 branches will have mobile hotspots available for check out beginning March 2.
Through the new program, library cardholders will be able to check out a hotspot for up to 30 days.
“The neighborhoods with the largest digital divide were identified for this pilot project,” said Dallas Public Library Director Jo Giudice.
Dallas City Council approved the purchase of 900 hotspots in September, according to the news release.
”It is really about equity and access,” Giudice said. “We know we can see the data that there was a deficit and a huge gap with internet access.”
Library staffers have been busy cataloging and coding each hotspot device.
Nearly 22% of homes in Dallas County do not have access to broadband internet, according to 2018 Census data.
Access to the internet is key for many people. They rely on the technology to do homework, research, and even for those looking for jobs.
”You can’t do anything without internet access,” Giudice said.
The hotspots will be available at the following locations:
- Skyline Branch
- Pleasant Grove
- Branch Prairie Creek Branch
- Dallas West Branch
- Martin Luther King Branch
- Highland Hills Branch
- Arcadia Park Branch
- Bachman Lake Branch
- Paul Laurence Dunbar Lancaster-Kiest Branch
- Polk Wisdom Branch
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