Marathon County Public Library- Wausau Branch. Image courtesy: MCPL
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Marathon County Public Library cardholders who don’t have access to reliable internet at their homes can now check out a cellular hotspot for two weeks at a time.
“So much of what we do, we do at home. When there is a snow day, kids still have school. They just have a virtual day,” said Marketing Director Dan Richter. “A lot of people work partially or completely at home.”
He says access remains a struggle for many and there are still numerous internet dead zones in the county. Meaning it makes sense to offer the units to residents.
Those looking to check out a unit must be at least 18 years old and a current library cardholder. Additionally, users must not already have home access to equipment or internet services which meet their educational or professional needs. Richter says there is also a user agreement form that must be signed at checkout.
There will be an option to renew the hotspot at the end of your two-week period, provided no one else has requested a unit through your branch. If the unit isn’t returned on time there will be a $1 per day late charge.
Staff at all branches have also been trained on how to set up the units. Each kit includes the hotspot, all required setup cables, and a troubleshooting guide.
Library officials announced the new addition to their offerings on Friday. The hotspots will be available through the end of the year. Library leaders will then evaluate the program to see if it’ll become a full-time offering.
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