Mobile WiFi Hotspots

Hotspots may be borrowed by GPL cardholders of at least 16 years of age, in good standing. It is one hotspot per household. Don't have a library card? Contact us.
Please note: short term, institutional, and online cardholders are not eligible to borrow hotspots.

It is absolutely free. There are no fees for the device or the data plan. If the device or any parts are missing when it is returned, a fee will be charged to your library account. While we are currently fine free, hotspots are subject to the usual charges for lost or damaged materials.

If you lose or damage the hotspot, case, wall charger, charging cable, or SIM card, the following charges will be added to your account:

• MiFi unit: $200.00
• Case: $13.00
• Wall charger: $10.00
• Charging cable: $10.00
• SIM card: $10.00

As the borrower, you are responsible for the hotspot. Please do not loan out the hotspot to anyone outside of your household.

If there are no hotspots currently available, you will need to place a hold on a hotspot. Once your hold is ready, a staff member will notify you to pick up your hotspot during opening hours. Staff will ask you to read and sign a borrower's agreement before checkout. If you choose, you can bring a signed copy of the Borrower's Agreement to the Service Desk. Staff will walk you through how to turn on and use the hotspot.

You can check out an available hotspot at any of our branches. We will have DVD display cases with a picture of a hotspot on the DVD case. If there are hotspots available to borrow, the DVD cases will be out on display. Pick up a hotspot DVD case and hand it to a staff person at the Service Desk. The staff member will retrieve a hotspot for you. Included in your hotspot kit is a hotspot, wall charger, charging cable, Quick Start Guide, and case.

You can borrow a hotspot for 21 days. You can get free internet access with the hotspot during that time. There are many people waiting to borrow a hotspot, so please return the hotspot on time. The hotspot will stop giving you access to the internet within 24 hours after the date the hotspot is due back to the library. You can renew a hotspot if no one else is waiting to borrow it. To renew a hotspot, log into your account or visit any of our branches.
Please note: Hotspots should be kept at room temperature, and should not be left outside or in vehicles.

Because we don't want the hotspot to get damaged, please do not put the hotspot in the book return. Instead, return the hotspot to a staff member at the Service Desk during our opening hours.
The hotspot, along with its original packaging and accessories, (hotspot, wall charger, charging cable, instruction booklet, case) must be returned.

1. Press and hold the Power/Menu Button for 2-3 seconds, until the display screen on the front of the device turns on. You don't need to use the plug or cord - they're used to recharge the device.
2. The WiFi is active when the signal strength shows on the display screen.
3. In the WiFi settings of your computer or device, choose the hotspot name and enter the password when prompted. The password can be found on the both the hotspot and within its case.

Charging the hotspot: When the “low battery” message appears on the display screen, the hotspot will need to be charged. Connect the USB cable to the hotspot charging port and plug the two-pronged charging adapter into a standard AC outlet. When the hotspot is powered off, it will take about three (3) hours to fully charge.

Please read the user guide included with the hotspot.

Privacy:

We care about your privacy when you use a hotspot. Because the Mobile WiFi hotspot program is an “opt-in” service, we want you to understand what information about your internet usage is tracked or used:

• We do not have access to or collect your internet usage data. We do not provide your information to the Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• We do keep a record that you have checked out a hotspot only during the checkout period. We use this information to help us run the library according to our Privacy of Membership Information. We remove your personally identifiable information from those records as soon as you return the hotspot.

The only information we collect about the Mobile WiFi hotspot program is:

• The total amount of data sent and received by each device
• Anonymous circulation data about the hotspot devices

We do not allow the ISP to use ad-targeting programs ("super cookies") to identify you or track your internet usage. The ISP has its own privacy policies and may not follow ours.

Security:

The Library assumes no responsibility for the security and privacy of on-line transactions, including credit card numbers, online banking information, and passwords. Parents or guardians, not the Library Board nor staff, are responsible for their children's access to the internet. Please read the Public Access to Computers and Internet Policy.

Borrowers of the Library's hotspots are responsible for the protection of their devices from viruses, spyware and spam by having up-to-date anti-virus software, firewalls, etc.

If you have a question or need help, email or call any of our branches. Our friendly staff will be glad to assist you. Or contact eServices Support.