As a result, the Anne Arundel County Public Library has launched a pilot program that lends Chromebooks for the long term to help those who don't have one.
Grace Planalp was the first to check out one of 56 Chromebooks under Brooklyn Park Library's new long-term lending program.
"Because we have no internet in our house," Planalp said. "I'm 80 and my partner is 91. The chances of getting internet installed are worthless, never going to happen. These Chromebooks are very important to me because I can do everything I need to do on my phone — reach out to people, write letters, get in touch with family, get emails."
The library has been lending Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots since 2020. The program is so popular that there is often a long waitlist.
The Chromebooks have to be returned within 21 days. Right now, 110 customers are waiting for Chromebooks and 200 are on the list for hotspots.
"We wanted to make it a longer-term program. This new program in Brooklyn Park is to give people a full three months — 12-week check out," said Skip Auld, CEO of the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
"We have some of the highest computer usage and the highest Chromebook checkouts for the three-week program," said library manager KT Zawodny. "So, this will extend access to users to be able to access that technology from wherever they want to."
Planalp is one of the library's top Chromebook users — she is happy to have one.
"I don't have to use my phone. I will have this for three months without having to worry about anything," Planalp said.
Wellpoint Maryland contributed $10,000 to the effort. The library foundation donated $15,000.
Watch the WBAL-TV11 story here: https://www.wbaltv.com/article/anne-arundel-public-library-program-lend-chromebooks/63096455