Page 12 - The Wayne Dispatch

New partnership brings improved internet access

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks partnership. Working collectively, users by using broadband connectiv-
have teamed up with The Library The list of specific libraries we can provide more internet access ity with T-Mobile data services.
Network and the Suburban Library where these hot spots are avail- to families in our region and im- Steven K. Bowers, the Executive
Cooperative to form an exciting new prove connection to virtual educa- Director of The Library Network, ex-
pilot partnership that aims to pro- able includes: tion and resources. Some families plains “The Library Network is ex-
vide equitable access to wi-fi hotspot • Wayne Public Library have not been able to experience the tremely excited about this new
service for students in southeast benefits of virtual field trips and vir- partnership and the opportunity to
Michigan. • Fowlerville District Library tual content because of a lack of data work together to support our region.
In the best of times, inequitable • Hamtramck Public Library service, and we hope this program Our two library systems [The Li-
access to the internet is a major • Leanna Hicks helps bridge some of those gaps,” brary Network and Suburban Li-
problem in the region. The COVID- says Metroparks Director, Amy brary Cooperative] represent over
19 pandemic shined a light on this Public Library (Inkster) McMillan. 100 libraries. Although these new
problem, as schools shut down and • Melvindale Public Library This partnership is expanding ac- hot spots have been delivered to spe-
moved to remote learning. It was dif- cess to library locations that had lim- cific library locations, any in-net-
ficult for many to provide the neces- • Oak Park Public Library ited or no hot spot availability work library user in the five-county
sary data service and the bandwidth • Pontiac Public Library previously. With this one-year pilot region can request access to the
needed for virtual learning. Libraries • Waterford Township partnership, the Metroparks have hotspots at their local library. That’s
serve as a community staple for peo- provided 100 hot spots, in the five- a large footprint we are able to
ple to have access to computers and Public Library county service region, to be checked reach.”
the internet, however they were re- • Ypsilanti District Library out through the library partners for According to Wayne Library Di-
quired to close during the pandemic, • Lenox Township Library use in underserved areas. The li- rector Jody Wolak, “We have been
meaning residents could no longer braries where these devices are avail- lending hotspots for about a month
come into the library and utilize • Mount Clemens Public Library able for check-out were selected to and a half now and they are very pop-
their internet access. Some libraries focus on underserved areas where ular! They are especially handy if
still are not open, but are continuing hotspot usage would make the great- you don't currently have home inter-
to provide curbside (contact free) or gramming. est impact on the surrounding com- net, if you're traveling, or if you'd like
grab-and-go pick-up service and “The Metroparks are excited munity. These hotspots will provide to be able to get online somewhere
have also shifted to more online pro- about the possibilities of this new unlimited highspeed internet to that doesn't have Wi-Fi.”

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12 · April 2021 · The Wayne Dispatch