County Libraries Provide Wi-Fi Hotspots

The Anne Arundel County Public Library system has launched its newest technology collection: Wi-Fi hotspots.

On August 10, AACPL put 50 hotspots into circulation. Due to popularity, the library system recently put in an order for an additional 56 hotspots.

“A lot of libraries across the country have actually been doing this,” said Stephanie Petruso, the visual services manager for AACPL. “We were really intrigued because we knew it would be something that would be really popular with our customers, so we’ve been trying to figure out a way to make it happen ever since.”

Though all the hotspots are currently listed at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Library, anyone who has a regular library card or a SAIL student account can borrow a hotspot.

Already, the hotspots have proven to be popular. Since the launch, the waitlist has not dropped below 200.

“Everybody has the same priority. It’s the same checkout length: one week,” Petruso said. “If there’s nobody waiting, you could renew up to five times, but we haven’t yet seen a time that there’s nobody waiting.”

The hotspots come in an orange case that includes the hotspot and its charger. The hotspot itself is the size of a deck of cards. Up to 10 devices can be connected to one hotspot at a time.

The hotspots are still usable while they are being charged. To use the hotspot, you turn it on and wait for it to show up on your device. Each hotspot has a unique password, which is listed inside the case it comes in.

The hotspots are connected to Sprint LTE data, meaning they work wherever a cellphone with Sprint would work. The data is unlimited, so customers won’t hit any barriers.

From a library’s perspective, Petruso said there was a need for these devices in the community.

“We know that there are people in our community who don’t have the same access to the internet as other people may,” Petruso said. “In 2018, that can be a real disadvantage.”

Students are expected to have Wi-Fi access for homework. Adults are expected to have Wi-Fi access for job applications, keeping up with the news and staying connected to family, Petruso said.

“We are proud to be able to provide [Wi-Fi] here inside the library, but we also realize that the library is only open so many hours a day,” Petruso said. “This is a way to be able to take the internet home with you and be able to use it without time limits.”

To request a hotspot, visit www.aacpl.net and type “hotspot” into the search bar.