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G2S Project Code: 2021-AL-88086
State: Alabama
Fiscal Year: 2021
Grantee
Alabama Public Library Service

Project Director
Director Name: Nancy C. Pack
Director Phone: (334) 213-3902
Director Email: npack@apls.state.al.us
General Information
Title: ARPA: Hotspot Lending
State Project Code: AL
Start Date: 04/08/2021
End Date: 09/30/2022
Abstract: ARPA funds were used to develop a pilot hotspot lending project targeted to 42 public libraries in the following counties: Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Cleburne, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Escambia, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Pickens, Sumter, Walker, and Washington.  The majority of these libraries are located in the Black Belt area of the state.  The populations served by these libraries ranges from 5,604 to 128,475.  Specific library information is in the Activities section.

[NOTE:  Based on this pilot project, an IMLS ARPA grant (ARPML-250582-OMLS-22) enabled the SLAA to expand the program to 30 additional public libraries.]  

State Goal: Information Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$96,821.00
$0.00
$0.00
$96,821.00
Intent(s)
Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Systems & Technologies
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Pilot Hotspot Program
Narrative:

 144 hotspots were distributed to the public libraries for patron checkout.  A total of 124.57 TB of data was used. 

 This is equivalent to:

·             Over 560 million 200-page eBooks

·               Over eight billion document pages

·                 Over 40,000 hours of video streaming


Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 144
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: ATMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 700 EAST CHURCH STREET
City: ATMORE
State: AL
Zip: 36502
Name: BRANTLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 10 MLK DRIVE
City: BRANTLEY
State: AL
Zip: 36009
Name: BREWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 206 WEST JACKSON STREET
City: BREWTON
State: AL
Zip: 36426
Name: CARBON HILL CITY LIBRARY
Address: 215 NW SECOND STREET
City: CARBON HILL
State: AL
Zip: 35549
Name: CARROLLTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 225 COMMERCE AVENUE
City: CARROLLTON
State: AL
Zip: 35447
Name: CHEAHA REGIONAL LIBRARY
Address: 935 COLEMAN STREET
City: HEFLIN
State: AL
Zip: 36264
Name: CHOCTAW COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 124 NORTH ACADEMY AVENUE
City: BUTLER
State: AL
Zip: 36904
Name: COLLINSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 151 MAIN STREET
City: COLLINSVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 35961
Name: CROSSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 80 GAINES STREET
City: CROSSVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 35962
Name: DALEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 308 DONNELL BOULEVARD
City: DALEVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 36322
Name: DEKALB COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 504 GRAND AVENUE NW
City: FORT PAYNE
State: AL
Zip: 35967
Name: DEMOPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 211 EAST WASHINGTON STREET
City: DEMOPOLIS
State: AL
Zip: 36732
Name: EUTAW - JAMES C. POOLE JR. MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 420 PRAIRIE AVENUE
City: EUTAW
State: AL
Zip: 35462
Name: FLOMATON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 436 DR. VAN AVENUE
City: FLOMATON
State: AL
Zip: 36441
Name: GORDO - RUTH HOLLIMAN MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 287 MAIN STREET SOUTH
City: GORDO
State: AL
Zip: 35466
Name: GREENVILLE-BUTLER COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 309 FORT DALE STREET
City: GREENVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 36037
Name: HALE COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 1103 MAIN STREET
City: GREENSBORO
State: AL
Zip: 36744
Name: HAYNEVILLE-LOWNDES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 215 B TUSKEENA STREET
City: HAYNEVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 36040
Name: HEFLIN - LUCILE L. MORGAN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 541 ROSS STREET
City: HEFLIN
State: AL
Zip: 36264
Name: HENAGAR - R. L. HADDEN MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 17163 ALABAMA HIGHWAY 75
City: HENAGAR
State: AL
Zip: 35978
Name: JACKSON - WHITE SMITH MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 213 COLLEGE AVENUE
City: JACKSON
State: AL
Zip: 36545
Name: JASPER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 98 EAST 18TH STREET
City: JASPER
State: AL
Zip: 35501
Name: KENNEDY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 17885 HIGHWAY 96
City: KENNEDY
State: AL
Zip: 35574
Name: LIVINGSTON - RUBY PICKENS TARTT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 206 MONROE STREET
City: LIVINGSTON
State: AL
Zip: 35470
Name: LUVERNE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 148 EAST THIRD STREET
City: LUVERNE
State: AL
Zip: 36049
Name: MACON COUNTY-TUSKEGEE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 302 SOUTH MAIN STREET
City: TUSKEGEE
State: AL
Zip: 36083
Name: MIDLAND CITY - MARY BERRY BROWN MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 1318 HINTON WATERS AVENUE
City: MIDLAND CITY
State: AL
Zip: 36350
Name: MILLPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 920 BLACK STREET
City: MILLPORT
State: AL
Zip: 35576
Name: MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 121 PINEVILLE ROAD
City: MONROEVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 36460
Name: MOUNDVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 410 MARKET STREET
City: MOUNDVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 35474
Name: NEWBERN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 7840 ALABAMA HIGHWAY 61
City: NEWBERN
State: AL
Zip: 36765
Name: NEWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 209 OATES DRIVE
City: NEWTON
State: AL
Zip: 36352
Name: OZARK-DALE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 416 JAMES STREET
City: OZARK
State: AL
Zip: 36360
Name: RAINSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 941 EAST MAIN STREET
City: RAINSVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 35986
Name: SELMA-DALLAS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 1103 SELMA AVENUE
City: SELMA
State: AL
Zip: 36703
Name: SULLIGENT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 514 ELM STREET
City: SULLIGENT
State: AL
Zip: 35586
Name: SUMITON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 416 STATE STREET
City: SUMITON
State: AL
Zip: 35148
Name: THOMASVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 1401 MOSLEY DRIVE
City: THOMASVILLE
State: AL
Zip: 36784
Name: VERNON - MARY WALLACE COBB MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 110 FIRST AVENUE WEST
City: VERNON
State: AL
Zip: 35592
Name: WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 14102 ST. STEPHENS AVENUE
City: CHATOM
State: AL
Zip: 36518
Name: WHITE HALL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 640 FREEDOM ROAD
City: WHITE HALL
State: AL
Zip: 36040
Name: YORK - HIGHTOWER MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 602 SECOND AVENUE
City: YORK
State: AL
Zip: 36925
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The past two to three years have been a bit extraordinary to say the least. As we look back over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s interesting to see how quickly we seemed to adapt to this “new normal”. When standing in line, people automatically put distance between themselves and others. Masks are still visible although not as prevalent. Vaccinations and home tests are readily available. Schools are back in session in the classroom. Patrons are coming back to the libraries for materials, programming, and computer access. Although still serious, the initial fear when someone contracts COVID seems to be easing. It seems to have morphed into the “new” flu. When CARES Act funds were received in 2020, we divided them between PPE supplies and broadband expansion for public libraries (see “CARES Act: PPE Supplies” and “CARES Act: Broadband” projects in the 2020 SPR). The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were directed on technology. The majority of the ARPA funds went toward a statewide technology upgrade project for public libraries (see "ARPA: Technology Upgrade" project). The other portion of ARPA was used to provide hotspots for checkout in specific public libraries. These coincided with the funding priorities as they were intended for “helping communities respond directly and immediately to the pandemic as well as to related economic and community needs through equitable approaches”.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The ongoing presence of COVID (and its many variables) has illustrated the strong need statewide for better technological infrastructure and connectivity. With CARES Act funds, we were able to support a broadband upgrade project being performed by the Alabama Supercomputer Authority (ASA). With ARPA funds, we have been able to develop a pilot hotspot lending program for targeted public libraries. Many of the chosen libraries are located in the Black Belt area of the state which has a high poverty rate. The national rates of poverty and households without broadband are 10.5% and 17.3% respectively. The Black Belt counties range between 15.3%-36.4% in poverty and 28.7%-60.2% households without broadband. These communities rely heavily on the services offered by their public libraries especially when it comes to technology. These areas often have less access to connectivity. To that end, the SLAA attempted to help bridge this divide by providing hotspots to libraries for patron checkout. ARPA funds were used to provide the necessary hardware and data plans for better access to electronic information. In FY2022, a total of 124.57 TB of data was used. This provided patrons access to over 560 million e-books and the ability to view over eight billion document pages and over 40,000 hours of video streaming.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
An FY2022 hotspot survey of library directors was conducted (see attached). The responses demonstrate the need for this service in these communities. For some of the patrons, the hotspots provide their only link to home internet access.. As stated above, the state number of households without broadband is higher than the national average. Based on the success of this pilot project, the SLAA applied for and received a supplemental IMLS ARPA grant to expand the program to 30 additional libraries. While the pandemic has been difficult, it has at least generated support where needed.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: COVID-19, Pandemic Response, Hotspots