Jeffco Library is the hot spot for Hot Spots

It doesn’t get any hotter this week at Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) as the library begins offering WiFi Hot Spots for check out to Jefferson County residents.

Library users can now check out and take home WiFi Hot Spots, a move JCPL says helps to meet a very real demand and supports its mission of making technology accessible to all.

According to the American Library Association’s 2015 State of American Libraries report, the modern library has evolved from its traditional role as a research-centric establishment to a central location for digital access, learning and literacy.

“By making these Hot Spots available for check out, we increase our patrons’ ability to get online,” says Pam Nissler, executive director for JCPL. “Some members in our community can’t afford the costs associated with internet service plans and these devices make it possible for them to connect and access digital resources.”

Today’s families rely upon the Internet for many reasons, including student access to online homework and patron access to the many digital resources made available by the Library.

JCPL’s 100 new devices are available now and can be checked out for seven days.

“The Library’s mission is to provide equal access to information and opportunity to all the residents of Jefferson County,” added Nissler. “When voters approved the 2015 mill levy, they enabled us to improve our ability to provide that access to new and emerging technologies and increase digital literacy countywide.”

In addition to the 100 hot spots, JCPL has added ten WiFi enabled tablets that are now in circulation at the Edgewater and Wheat Ridge Libraries.