Kathrine Alderman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Due to all the changes and concessions having to be made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet has seen more use than it probably ever has. Online classes, online meetings and many more daily or regular activities have been moved online to keep people from gathering and potentially spreading the virus. This was annoying, but acceptable for lots of people, as it's better to change how you do things than potentially spread COVID-19. However, some people don't have internet, or their internet just isn't good enough to hold out for all things they're using it for during the pandemic.
Many people, if they didn't have internet, would go to the library if they needed good, reliable internet access, but when COVID-19 hit, many libraries and public buildings closed. Everyone was told to shelter in place and not leave their house “to work from home unless your job was deemed essential” but this proved difficult for people with bad or no internet.
Now that things are opening back up again, it isn't as hard to access the internet in other places. However, many people still don't want to go out to places like the library and stay there in public and risk spreading or catching the virus. Luckily for them, the Jefferson County Public Library recently acquired, and are now renting out, hotspots!
A hotspot is a device that you can set up and then wirelessly connect to for internet access! The library is offering a few hotspots that you can connect up to eight devices to, which can be borrowed for one week via their Tech 2 Go program. Only adults may borrow the hotspot kits, and they must have a valid library card. Kits must be returned with all their pieces—the hotspot, charger and case—on time, and there are no renewals allowed.
The internet is a large part of daily life nowadays, and it becomes increasingly important as the years go on—especially in these times of social distancing. So, it's incredible to have such a resource as borrowing the internet available at our local library.