Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) is committed to removing barriers to digital access. We strive to achieve our vision of being the hub connecting people to the transforming power of information, both in and beyond our buildings. The area we serve is home to some of the foremost tech companies and data centers in the nation, yet many area residents are still not part of the digital world. The COVID-19 pandemic made these issues more profound. The pandemic also made many of our services unavailable to those who need them most.

PWPL has adopted a comprehensive plan to help bridge the digital divide that includes implementation of three services: (1) free, publicly available Wi-Fi access outside our buildings, (2) laptop lending program, and (3) portable Wi-Fi hotspot lending program.

We now have over 300 Wi-Fi mobile hotspots in circulation at our 12 libraries, provide Wi-Fi outside of our buildings 24/7, and will soon lend laptops. A network re-architecture project also improved the wireless coverage inside all branches.

PWPL launched Wi-Fi mobile hotspot lending in November 2019 with just 10 devices. Immediately, the devices were in high demand and checkouts were running at capacity. In 2021, we increased the number of devices to 300 and have had 1,318 checkouts to date. Free Wi-Fi, available 24/7, was extended outside our buildings in August 2021, therefore we don’t have a formal evaluation yet. However, providing reliable Wi-Fi outside our buildings has been requested by patrons for long time.