The Denver Public Library has announced that it will be ending its program that allowed patrons to borrow laptops and internet hotspots to take home. This decision comes as a result of ongoing budget uncertainties.

Program Details

Since 2016, the library has offered over 300 Chromebooks with built-in wi-fi and hotspots for borrowing, allowing for free at-home access to the internet. Patrons were able to borrow the devices for up to three weeks, with a queue of up to 800 people waiting to use the program.

According to library spokesperson Olivia Gallegos, the decision to end the program was not made lightly. “We know the community relies on us for digital access, and this decision does not come lightly,” she wrote in an email. “Due to ongoing budget uncertainties, we are unable to sustain this program.”

While the laptop and hotspot program is ending, patrons will still have access to on-location computers and laptops, which have a two-hour limit per session.

Budget Concerns

The program cost around $184,000 in fiscal year 2025, mostly to pay for internet service. This represents a small fraction of the library’s $93 million budget. However, Denver’s budget has been precarious in recent years, with city officials having to cut $64 million in spending and make additional cuts via layoffs and hiring freezes last year.

The library was not spared from last year’s budget crisis, with 99 vacant positions indefinitely frozen and millions of dollars cut from its budget for on-call staffing and certain services.

Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.