Trails Regional Library is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant in the amount of $12,348.00 from the Missouri State Library’s CARES Act Grant. The Library will be using the funding to address digital inclusion, broadband availability, and to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 in its communities by beginning a Hotspot Lending Program.
“We are so excited for the opportunity to bridge the digital divide in our communities through this grant program,” said Library Director Tanya Shelton-Council.
Trails Regional Library plans to introduce 35 mobile hotspots for circulation to address COVID-19-related service disruptions and provide access to internet connection in rural areas without library locations.
According to the most recent American Community Survey (2019), within Trails Regional Library’s service areas of Johnson and Lafayette counties:
- 10% of households include people aged 65+ living alone
- 15% of households have no internet access at all
- 10% of households have no kind of computer or internet-connected device
Trails Regional Library hopes to help mitigate obstacles to learning, vital social services, health information, and library assistance for these patrons through this Hotspot Lending Program.
The Hotspot Lending Program is expected to be available for patrons beginning in Fall 2020. Updates to the program will be shared on Trails Regional Library’s website, trailslibrary.org.
This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.