Communities all over Texas have experienced increased demand for WiFi connectivity due to normal connection locations, such as schools, libraries, and places of work, being closed or operating on limited hours in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some public libraries have been lending mobile WiFi hotspots for a few years, while others are considering a new program to meet the digital inclusion needs of their community.
To assist libraries in the process, we here at TSLAC thought it would be helpful to provide two kinds of resources:
- Mobile WiFi Hotspot Recommendation from Texas Public Library Staff
This resource provides links to accessories, policies, and lessons learned through the experiences of seasoned library WiFi hotspot lenders — your colleagues! - Mobile WiFi Hotspot Info from Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)
This resource was compiled by us here at TSLAC to make it easier to find vetted vendors of WiFi hotspots made possible through the purchasing power of the State.
If you’ve never purchased anything through a DIR contract, you’re in luck. We have an upcoming webinar on June 25th on how the process works. Register here.
Do you have tips or resources on mobile WiFi hotspot lending that you’d like to share? Add your comments below or contact Cindy Fisher at cfisher@tsl.texas.gov and I’ll add them to the resource above.
