Wake County Public Libraries cardholders can now check out Chromebooks and mobile hotspots for use at home through a program designed to expand access to technology and the internet.
The library system currently has 100 Chromebooks and mobile hotspots available for checkout across 13 library locations. The program supports communities in Wake County that have a disproportionate lack of access to broadband internet.
“Digital equity is crucial for education, employment and so much more,” said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas. “By lending Chromebooks and hotspots, our libraries are helping remove barriers and give more residents the tools they need to be successful, regardless of their abilities or circumstances.”
Library cardholders can check out a Chromebook or mobile hotspot for seven days, with an additional seven-day checkout period available when inventory allows. Devices are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons should contact one of the participating libraries to inquire about availability.
The participating locations are:
- Cary Regional Library, 315 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
- Duraleigh Road Community Library, 5800 Duraleigh Road, Raleigh
- East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale
- Fuquay-Varina Community Library, 271 Bramblehill Drive, Fuquay-Varina
- Green Road Community Library, 4101 Green Road, Raleigh
- North Regional Library, 7009 Harps Mill Road, Raleigh
Please note that this location will be closed from Sept. 8 through mid-October for construction. - Oberlin Regional Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh
- Richard B. Harrison Community Library, 1313 New Bern Ave., Raleigh
- Southeast Regional Library, 908 7th Ave., Garner
- Southgate Community Library, 1601-14 Cross Link Road, Raleigh
- Wake Forest Community Library, 400 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Wendell Community Library, 207 S. Hollybrook Road, Wendell
- Zebulon Community Library, 1000 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
Residents who would like to learn more about the program are encouraged to stop by one of the participating libraries, visit wake.gov/libraries, call 919-250-1200 or email askwcpl@wake.gov.
State grant funds devices, improvements to public computers
The program is funded through a $398,700 grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity. The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted in September 2024 to accept and appropriate the grant funds, which were awarded through the Digital Equity Champion grant program.
The device loaner program began rolling out in March and has already provided nearly 500 people with access to Chromebooks and hotspots, with a total of 710 device checkouts to date. Patrons have reported using the devices for schoolwork, job hunting and learning new skills. Nearly 85% of survey respondents said checking out a device helped them gain new skills or learn something they did not previously know.
“Recently, a patron shared that being able to borrow a Chromebook when hers stopped working made a world of difference,” said Wendell Community Library Manager Crystal Mitchener. “She needed time to purchase a new device, and having immediate access to one through the library—right in her own community—was incredibly convenient. It ensured she could stay connected when it mattered most.”
The Digital Equity Champion grant also supports accessibility improvements to public computers throughout the library system. All library locations offer high-contrast keyboards and trackball mice, as well as screen magnifiers and screen readers, to increase access for community members with disabilities.
