Dallas is considering ending its laptop and hotspot lending program.
The City’s current proposed budget cuts the spending associated with the laptops and hotspots, saving taxpayers $619,000.
Dallas Public Library originally created the program to loan hotspots to people in the library system’s GED and English language learning classes. The program was then opened up to the broader public during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The City of Dallas approved the purchase of 2,100 additional hotspots for library cardholders to use. Each Dallas Public Library location was equipped with at least 85 hotspots that were made available for people to check out for at-home internet usage.
“It was going to be a much more focused program,” said Dallas Public Library Director Mary Jo Giudice at Monday’s City Council meeting. “Whereas today, we don’t ask why you’re checking it out, and we don’t block any usage.”
Hotspots and laptops must be returned after 30 days.
Some council members said that by ending the program, the City would encourage Dallas residents to come to libraries more often for internet access.
“Initial investment in wifi hotspot laptops was largely a response to the COVID-19 pandemic to promote internet access during a period in which library buildings were closed,” reads a memorandum by the City’s Quality of Life, Arts & Culture Committee. “While hotspot laptops do provide a temporary connection to the internet, 30-day loans of hotspot laptops are not a long-term solution for home internet service that would support remote work and/or online learning.”
The committee also said that the program is high in cost and requires extensive time and effort on the part of library staff. The hotspots and laptops are frequently lost or returned with incomplete parts.
“I know we want to encourage people to come to our library more regularly, and that’s great, but we also have to take into account that not everyone can. When I was in school, I worked at night a lot, past midnight,” said Council Member Jaime Resendez (District 5). “Our libraries aren’t open 24/7. We need to look if the cost outweighs the benefit to our community.”
The proposed shutdown of the program comes as Dallas is projected to face a $38 million budget shortfall by fiscal year 2025, as recently reported by The Dallas Express.