By Shaun Penner

Free Internet Access

Mobile internet hot spots now being loaned out at Grande Prairie Public Library

Aug 4, 2020 | 2:27 PM

The Grande Prairie Public Library (GPPL) is now able to loan out mobile hot spots to those who may not have access to the internet at home.

Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta, and donations from Telus and Custom Cellular, the library now has 31 hot spot devices that can be borrowed from the GPPL, free of charge, through the Pretty Fly for a Wi-Fi: Hotspot Lending at the Library program.

“It acts like a WiFi signal for you to have at home, or you can take it camping and that way you’re connected to the internet if you want to maybe watch Netflix because it’s raining outside,” says Head of Adult Services Hailey McCullough. “Or if you’re just looking to get online and do courses or apply for a job or do resume work.

“It’ll help you get that access that people might not be able to afford.”

The Library was able to purchase 15 devices from Custom Cellular through a grant it applied for through the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta, which facilitates the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund.

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“The Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta is thrilled to be the vessel of the Government of Canada’s support to our Grande Prairie Public Library,” says Foundation CEO Laura LaValley, adding “We know that ensuring all families in our area have access to information is paramount during times of crisis and commend the Grande Prairie Public Library for their ingenuity and care for our communities.”

From the purchase, Custom Cellular donated an additional device to the library.

The program then caught the attention of TELUS, who then matched the purchase with a donation of 15 additional devices for the library to loan out.

“TELUS has made it possible to reach twice the people we originally anticipated,” says McCullough. “They saw the value of the project and didn’t hesitate to become involved. For that we are grateful.”

Due to the billing cycle of the devices, each device that is loaned out must be returned to the library on the 27^th of each month.

“It’s not like a set borrowing period like three weeks or two weeks or seven days,” said McCullough. “Regardless of when they borrowed it in the month, it’s due back on the 27^th.”

Each device carries one terabyte of data for each billing cycle.