St. Louis Public Library adds thousands of hotspots, Chromebooks for long-term loans

The St. Louis Public Library is adding 8,000 hotspots and 1,500 Chromebooks for city patrons who don't have internet or computer access at home. Residents can check out these devices for free for more than a year. Money for the library's total 17,500-device program comes from the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund. Through an earlier allocation by the fund, the library had already bought and loaned 4,000 Chromebooks and 4,000 hotspots. Because of the new funding, due dates for those devices have also been extended until Sept. 30, 2023. To check out a device, an individual must: be a resident of St. Louis city; visit one of the 16 library locations; have a St. Louis Public Library card, or sign up for one.