An organization that supports the library in Charlottetown’s downtown is working on a new goal.

The Charlottetown Library Learning Centre Foundation recently completed its first major project, buying a set of 20 portable Wi-Fi hotspots for the library system.

Now, the volunteers are fundraising for another big tech purchase. The plan is a kiosk that users can operate with their library card to take out laptops, iPads or other tablets to use in the library.

Susan Graham, interim foundation board chair, says tech access is essential for modern life, and many residents struggle to afford resources.

“Being without access to that kind of technology is a huge burden to the community. You need to have access to these kinds of technologies to apply for a job, to upgrade your education, to access a whole host of public goods and services,” Graham said in an Aug. 7 Guardian interview.

Access confirmed

While the library has several desktop computers, they are set up in the noisier part of the building, next to the cafe. Portable tech can be used in quieter areas or in the library’s bookable meeting rooms, Graham said.

Some users may also be more familiar with tablets than computers, which have different operating systems.

Access will be limited to use inside the building, though, and borrowers will not be able to take the tools home, Graham said.

The project is still in the early stages, so there is no solid timeline on purchasing the kiosk. The projected cost is in the tens of thousands, but the foundation has not sourced the technology yet, so there is no certain price tag either, Graham said.

Self-sufficient

Grace Dawson, provincial director of libraries and archives, says the Charlottetown library already has a collection of devices, so the foundation will not have to fundraise for that.

Users will be able to connect to the library Wi-Fi, printers and go work wherever they want in the library.

Dawson described the kiosks as a vending machine for devices.

“If you’re here and you want to use a laptop or a tablet, you can just use your library card, check it out, use it for a couple of hours, and then you return it. So it’s all self-sufficient,” she said in a Guardian interview.

A timeline for the purchase will depend on fundraising, she said.

Book ball

Last year, the foundation held its first book ball, a costume ball for book lovers. It sold out, and the foundation is bringing the ball back this fall with more tickets available, Graham said.

“This place was packed full of people on a Saturday night, all dressed up in costume. So we’re doing that again. That will be a major fundraiser for this particular initiative.”

Details for the Oct. 3 ball are available on the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre Foundation’s social media pages.

Supporters can volunteer for this or other events or donate directly. Donors can also earmark the projects they want their money to support, Graham said.

Source: The Guardian