Community Connect: Hotspots

Hotspot Lending

Libraries will be provided five hotspots for lending during a two-year period. ALA staff can help support you with remote access to your devices while they are under your care if the need arises.

Verizon Jetpack® MiFi® 8800L

You will receive five (5) hotspot devices called Jetpacks, plus charging cables and plugs for each device. Upon arrival, ensure that all devices are not damaged and in working order. Each device is labeled with its unique library code, phone number and password. If a device is damaged or not working, contact BeeBee Browne at Bbrowne@ala.org.

Your Jetpack hotspot devices are already set up and were updated with the latest firmware. The Jetpack hotspot devices should arrive ready for lending; however, you will need to follow the below steps to gain an understanding of the devices and what controls you have access to before sending them out. Please also watch the webinar training on hotspot devices, as many features are demonstrated, and potential questions answered.

When the devices arrive

Power on hotspot (hold down power button for a few seconds, button on top right side of device)
- Test the Jetpack to make sure you can connect to it from a device and browse the Internet.
- Make sure the Jetpack/MiFi is fully charged.
You will want to check for software updates every month or so to ensure the Jetpack/MiFi remains up to date.
- From the Jetpack Menu, click Software update, Check for Update, and make sure the latest Firmware update is installed and applied.

Hotspot Lending Policy

You will need to create a Hotspot Lending Policy if you do not already have one in place. The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of ALA, created a Hotspot Playbook with many excellent resources available to provide guidance on creating your own policy, plus much more, at http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/digitallead/hotspot-playbook. We encourage you to look closely at the “Launching a Hotspot Lending Program” section of the playbook and be sure your library has a policy in place before lending begins.

If you are struggling to get a hotspot returned to you, and you have tried contacting the person who has it to no avail, ALA staff have the option to remotely turn data off on any device. If the data is turned off, the hotspot device is essentially useless, and could motivate the user to return the device to you. ALA also has a small budget to assist with repair and replacement of devices, should the need arise.

Is turning off the data something that only ALA will be able to do?

Correct, ALA is the account holder for the hotspots so you will need to contact us at publicprograms@ala.org in order to shut off the data to a device. When requesting to have a device's service temporarily turned off, please include the following information: Library Name, Device Name, Device Wireless Number, and the date you need the data shut off if not returned

Are there any guidelines ALA wants libraries to follow in regards to how overdue we allow the hotspots to be before we contact you?

Each library is permitted to set their policies for hotspot lending as they see fit. Feel free to set a boundary on how long a device is overdue before turning off the data. We also suggest including in your timeline a date to contact the patron to remind them that the device is due. Thus, the policy you might create could look something like this:

Hotspots can be loaned for XX day(s)/week(s)/ etc.
After XX week(s) past due date, contact the patron to remind them the device is due. Include a reminder that the device will be remotely shut off from data if the device is not returned by XX date.
Send a final reminder to the patron X day(s) before the “turn off data” date
- Contact publicprograms@ala.org to let us know you may need to shut off data to a device.
  - Include: Library Name, Device Name, Device Wireless Number, and the date you need the data shut off if not returned
  - ALA will then work with you from there

Should we charge late fines/fees?

You may choose to waive Late Fines/Fees for the hotspots. ALA does have a small budget to replace hotspot devices in case one is damaged or taken. As well, once the data is turned off, the hotspot becomes nothing more than a cute paper weight, which helps encourage folks to return the device.

Please contact BeeBee Browne at bbrowne@ala.org, 312.280.5053 or the Public Programs Office at publicprograms@ala.org, 312.280.5045, if you need assistance.

Additional Digital Literacy resources from PLA can be found in their Digital Literacy Instruction Playbook.

Guide for Data Usage and Services

0 to 25 GB of usage = Full Data
- You can stream movies, video chat, email, browse
- Speeds anywhere from 10-50 Mbps Download depending on where closest Verizon tower is.
Greater than 25 GB of usage = Throttled Data
- Email and simple web browsing (some pages with large images will load slowly)
- Speeds are throttled to 200 kbps Download (think wireless speeds from 2005)

Throttled Data will reset on the next Bill cycle and back to Full Data until 25 GB are used again.

TIP: Video Chat & Streaming movies really does chew away at the data. If users can lower the resolution of the Video/Movie being viewed on the connected device, this could allow for more days of Full Data.

When does the bill cycle ends/begins?

Every bill cycle ends on the 17th of each month and begins on the 18th of each month.

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