The Menomonie Public Library is launching its latest effort to bridge the digital divide by offering mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for check-out. The Library is part of a pilot project led by Wisconsin Valley Library Services and Indianhead Federated Library System to provide mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for check-out with your library card. Menomonie is calling the project Wi-Fi to Go. The Library is starting with 5 mobile hotspots beginning Friday, March 25, 2016.
Any Library user 18 years of age or older with a valid Library card will be able to check-out a Wi-Fi hotspot at no cost to them. This new program will benefit families, students, persons of all ages without Internet at home or who live in an area with limited choices for Internet, and those who want to try mobile Wi-Fi before buying. It often seems like the Internet is everywhere and everyone has easy, affordable access to it. Unfortunately that is not the case. The Library has high demand for their free public access Internet and computers for education and employment. The Wi-Fi to Go project is a means for the Library to reach outside the building to everyone in need of Internet service for study, life-long learning, communication, and well-being.
The Menomonie Public Library Foundation is providing funding for the project.