The Ellensburg Public Library unveiled new technologies for the public to utilize, including three mobile hotspots, six laptops and wireless printing added Feb 9.

Patrons 18 years of age and up are able to use any of the technology. Three of the laptops are designated for in-house use and won’t be allowed to leave the library, while the other three can be taken home for up to a week at a time. The hotspots are also available for one week at a time.

Back in 2020, the library introduced movie and documentary streaming through the service Kanopy and are now looking into more options.

These new options are available because of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which was created to help funding during the pandemic. 

Adult Services and Reference Librarian RJ Woods said while this is the one of the first steps they have toward the technology they want at the library, there aren’t any immediate next steps.

“We start small and if it’s successful, we build from there,” Woods said.

Woods mentioned how in-house checkout for laptops is most common in libraries, and because of the smaller population here in Ellensburg, it’s something that’s more feasible. 

The wireless printing is something that Woods said he had been wanting for the library both because he understood it was a need and because patrons requested it frequently.

“The wireless printing was really high on my wish list,” Woods said.

The library also has a mobile lab with laptops Woods estimated to be 10-12 years old so with the new laptops, he said he hopes they can loan them out to patrons.

The hotspots were included to give people who needed to work or learn from home the ability to do so.

“We’ve had really good success early on, we’re pretty excited,” Woods said.

These services are available at the references desk in the library with wireless printing available at https://ci.ellensburg.wa.us/144/Library.