Telus donated two Wi-Fi hotspots for the Medicine Hat Public Library to loan out to patrons. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Chris Brown

Donated by Telus

Wi-Fi hotspots available to borrow from the library

Jul 28, 2021 | 2:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A new initiative at the Medicine Hat Public Library is helping people stay connected to reading and other online activities.

Telus recently donated a pair of Wi-Fi hotspots to the library, which began loaning them out on the weekend.

“We kind of thought a good application for them would be to take them out camping so then you don’t have to use your own data,” says head of marketing Gillian Reimer. “Especially if you have kids, kids like to be distracted by YouTube or whatever else so you’re not using your own streaming data that way.”

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“Maybe if you have a cabin and you don’t have internet there yet. I think there’s a lot of applications. Even if you’re just between service providers or something like that at home. I think people could find lots of ways to use it. Maybe just our on a picnic or whatever.”

The hotspots were popular right away, with 14 holds already in place on the two hotspots, which go out for three-week loans just like other library items.

Reimer says the library will see if that popularity holds up over the rest of the year.

“I think they might be more popular in the summer so we’ll see if they continue being popular throughout the year and if they are we’ll reach out to Telus and see if they can sponsor a couple more,” she says.

Reimer adds the hotspots are the first item in a Library of Things that will be launched in the fall.

You can check out or place a hold on a hotspot at the library’s website.