The Linden Public Library Foundation received a donation worth $28,150 to help keep the community connected. 

U.S. Cellular donated 25 wireless hotspots and two years of service as a part of the After School Access Project. Library Director Gay Norton says the hotpsots will go to help kids catch up and get connected.

“We were lucky to get the grant that will enable the kids that don’t have wifi at home to hook up to programs that can help them and they can come into the library. We are really excited to be able to help them. I think a lot of the kids after the pandemic that we’ve been going through have gotten behind and we are hoping to help them catch up.”

Norton tells Raccoon Valley Radio the hotspots will be able to be checked out for a two week period for those who have a library card at no charge. Norton says it’s a good feeling to have support for the library which serves roughly 110 patrons and averages approximately 20 visitors each day. 

“It’s just wonderful to have this kind of support. We are a very small library and we share the building with the city hall. So, we have a very limited space so it’s really wonderful to have this kind of support, we are thrilled to get it.”

The hopes are to have the wifi hotspots ready to go by tomorrow.