ALPENA — Thanks to a grant distributed by the Library of Michigan’s Library Services and Technology Act program, the Alpena County Library received ARPA funds from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to purchase wireless hotspots and tablets to circulate to Alpena library cardholders.

IT Specialist Nancy Mousseau applied for the funding with the assistance of Assistant Director Jessica Luther.

“We all think this is pretty awesome to be able to offer this kind of technology to members of our community who would’t ordinarily have access to it,” Mousseau said. “We are really excited to be able to get this project off the ground.”

The hotspots are serviced through the T-Mobile network and can be checked out for 14 days. The tablets are also available for 14 day checkouts and are preloaded with library-related applications and bookmarks.

In order to borrow either of these items, a patron must be 18 or older, be a library cardholder in good standing, and have some form of photo identification with them.

Overdue fines do apply to this equipment, $2.50 per day. The hotspots and tablets must be returned to a library staff member at one of the service desks.

For more information, please call the library at 989-356-6188.

Funding is provided in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.