Diana Friend
Communications and Marketing Director
785-554-5334 (cell) | 785-580-4486 (office)
dfriend@tscpl.org |
|
|
|
Library Brings WiFi to Support Shawnee Heights Students
|
|
(TOPEKA) Starting today, the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (TSCPL) will locate a bookmobile with public WiFi (TSCPL-Public), in two areas that are lacking internet access. Community members are encouraged to park near the bookmobiles at the following locations during the specified days and times:
- Women's Correctional Facility parking lot, 815 SE Rice Rd
8:30am-3:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
- Coachlight Village East Mobile Home Park, 3637 SE 6th Ave
8:30am-3:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
|
|
TSCPL CEO Gina Millsap reached out to the Topeka and Shawnee County school district superintendents and IT directors last week to learn what additional needs schools might have as students, teachers and families adjust to at-home classes and working at home. Shawnee Heights, Topeka Public Schools and Auburn-Washburn Middle and High Schools are all subscribers of TSCPL@School service, which provides students with a library account to use their public library digitally or in the building.
"One issue that has become apparent in light of our current circumstances is the lack of fast and affordable community broadband,” said Millsap. “These days, having internet access is as important as electricity and other utilities and with so many students and parents working from home, the library is making this need a priority.”
The first two WiFi locations are suggestions from USD 450 Superintendent Dr. Martin Stressman, identifying the Eastgate neighborhood and the mobile home park located on 6th near Croco Rd, as areas where there is a widespread lack of broadband access for students. The library will explore additional new community sites to this initiative if it proves successful.
The library is also providing free WiFi in the library's west parking lot (between Garfield Ave. and Claire's Courtyard) every day from 7 a.m. until 9:15 p.m.
Shawnee County Parks and Recreation is also providing free WiFi at the Community Centers. Park in the spaces closest to the front door for best reception.
- Central Park Community Center, 1534 SW Clay St
- Oakland Community Center, 801 NE Poplar
- Garfield Community Center, 1600 NE Quincy St
- Crestview Community Center, 4801 SW Shunga Dr
- Rice Community Center, 432 SE Norwood
###
|
|
|
|
