Libraries Without Borders firmly believes that connecting underserved communities to information is critical —especially in light of recent challenges posed by COVID-19. For the community in San Antonio, stark discrepancies in access to the Internet is one of the biggest challenges posed by the pandemic. Today, families in the city need the Internet and digital devices to perform day to day tasks—like pay taxes and apply for jobs. As schools continue the transition to online learning and unemployment rates skyrocket, connectivity and access to critical information have never merited more attention. 

Previously, Libraries Without Borders worked on bridging the digital divide in San Antonio through our Wash and Learn Initiative (WALI). Through this program, we converted two laundromats in Bexar County into access points for digital resources (including laptops, tablet computers, Wi-FI, databases, and educational tools in each WALI space) as well as hubs for community learning and engagement. However, as COVID-19 spread and shutdowns of businesses ensued, we were forced to rethink our Wash and Learn Initiative. With newfound sanitary measures altering every aspect of life, we asked ourselves the following question: how can we ensure that people remain connected to critical information while following necessary sanitary precautions?

In our attempt to shift gears, we began looking to our partners who already had methods for finding people who lacked access to Internet connectivity and critical information. Specifically, the San Antonio Food Bank, Google Fiber, and the NXT Level Youth Opportunity Center (an organization dedicated to individuals between the ages of 16-24 looking for educational and career opportunities), connected us to a list of people in need of Internet and/or digital devices.

Once connected to individuals in need of access to information, we began to brainstorm an effective response strategy. This response strategy was supported by the COVID-19 Response Fund, a community fund jointly managed by the San Antonio Area Foundation and the United Way of San Antonio. The fund is comprised of nearly 30 caring businesses, donor advised funds, philanthropic foundations, and government entities. With the support of this grant, we successfully kicked off our rapid response efforts in San Antonio by May 2020.

In the first stage of these rapid response efforts, we initially decided to expand the WiFi connection at each of our San Antonio WALI sites. Now, laundromat patrons and neighborhood residents can access the Internet in the parking lot, from the safety of their vehicles. However, while this remodeling of WALI proved successful, we still wanted to develop a more direct mechanism for meeting people where they are, with the resources they need most. From this desire, we designed the ConnectED Tech Kits.

Our ConnectEd Tech Kits in San Antonio are critical to bridging the digital divide. With the support of Goodwill’s Technology Access Program (TAP), we are able to provide refurbished laptops and webcams in our kits. In addition, we have partnered with Mobile Beacon to include hotspots in the kits for families and individuals who do not have at-home access to the Internet. Through a partnership with another local organization, the Ruth Mini Mobile Library, we are able to include books in each kit. Google Fiber, our original funder in San Antonio, has also assisted in helping purchase the resources needed for these kits. Thanks to the dedication of our partners in bridging the Digital Divide and bringing Digital Equity, the ConnectED Tech Kits have been a huge success!

With the support of our partners, we are proud to have directly served 45 families, with these numbers increasing each and every day!

We are thrilled to say that our San Antonio Project Coordinator, Lisa Alvarenga, has distributed 45 laptops and is expecting to distribute 55 more in the upcoming weeks. With the support of our partners, we are proud to have directly served 45 families, with these numbers increasing each and every day!