“The pandemic has put a spotlight on America’s pernicious gap between those who can get online and those who can’t because internet lines don’t reach their homes or they can’t afford access or computers — or all of the above.”
Shira Ovide, “Think Local About the Digital Divide”
A recent article called “Think Local About the Digital Divide” by Shira Ovide in The New York Times puts in a plug for small-scale internet access projects like “mesh networks” to provide internet access for all in the U.S. “Small-scale projects aren’t a panacea,” says Ovide, later concluding that “a diversity of approaches” at the federal, state, and local level will be needed to bridge the gap.
The FFAPL’s Keep Albany Connected campaign is helping the Albany Public Library with one small approach: Expanding APL public wifi to library grounds and parking lots. This is a crucial development during the coronavirus pandemic, which has currently shuttered library branches to patrons for safety reasons. From remote schooling for children, telehealth for medical appointments, to applying for employment, unemployment, and other benefits, internet access is a critical need during the pandemic.
Keep Albany Connected began during our Literary Legends Gala in October, through Giving Tuesday (12/1/2020) and concluded on December 13th. We raised $2275 for the Keep Albany Connected campaign towards our goal of $8000. The Board of the Friends and Foundation applied $5625 of Annual Appeal funds to this cause, and the FFAPL will transfer $8000 to the Albany Public Library for WiFi extenders: Thanks to your donations, four APL branches will receive outdoor WiFi extenders. The Delaware Avenue branch’s extenders have already been installed!
Many other UHLS libraries are working to expand the reach of their WiFi signal during the pandemic. If you are driving around and need to stop for a Zoom meeting, turn the parking lots of these libraries into your mobile office:
(Did we miss any? Let us know and we’ll add it to the list.)
