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News & Information

Chromebooks and Hotspots Available to Borrow from the Sussex County Library System

Release Date: May 11, 2022

Newton, NJ – The Sussex County Library System (SCLS) is excited to offer Chromebooks and Hotspots for checkout to all SCLS cardholders. The items can be checked out together or separately. The initial lending period is two weeks with up to three renewals if no other borrower is waiting.

The Chromebooks run on Chrome OS operating system and run the Google suite of productivity tools including Docs, Sheets and Slides. These tools can also access Microsoft Office files including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. All information is stored remotely in the individual user’s Google account, so no personal information remains on the Chromebook when a session is ended. The Wi-Fi Hotspots provide unlimited data and can support up to 10 tablets, phones or other mobile devices.

“Thanks to a grant from the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund we are able to help fill the technology gap for people with limited or no internet access,” stated Library Director Will Porter. “Before the pandemic the SCLS hosted over 45,000 computer sessions a year. Limiting access to our public computers during COVID highlighted how important the libraries are to bridging the digital divide for so many Sussex County residents. While we are now completely open with public computing and free Wi-Fi available 6 days/week, the ability to ‘check out the internet’ allows our borrowers to more fully explore the digital world and work on bigger projects outside of our open hours.”

Chromebooks and Hotspots are available for checkout to all SCLS cardholders, though minors will also need a parent or guardian signature on the lending form. A free library card is available to anyone who lives, works, goes to school or owns property in Sussex County (except Sparta). To learn more about this program and everything else the SCLS has to offer, stop by your local branch or go to sussexcountylibrary.org.