Old Lyme Library to Lend Laptops to Eligible Residents

OLD LYME, CT – Not everyone in Old Lyme has a computer at home, and a smartphone can’t do everything – so the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library will soon be lending laptops to eligible residents.

The devices are part of Laptop ConneCT, a roughly $7 million initiative funded by federal pandemic-relief funds. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut State Library are partnering to distribute nearly 6,000 laptops for short- and long-term loans through 135 public libraries serving 138 municipalities.

The program is limited to income-eligible residents who do not already have a comparable computer.

Library Director Katie Huffman in an email last week said the local library received 10 laptops.

“We know that there are people in the community who do not have access to a device at home, or if they do have a device, they can’t afford to maintain an internet connection,” she said.

The most recent available U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey five-year estimates, covering 2017–2021, showed that about 331 people in Old Lyme lived below the poverty level.

“We also see people who have a mobile device that meets most, but not all, of their digital needs,” she said. “I think we’ve all encountered a website or application process that simply doesn’t work on a smartphone.”

The DEEP in a news release said the program is intended to make sure people have the tools they need to get online and use digital services in areas like education, employment and health care.

She acknowledged the program does not include a mobile hotspot or financial assistance for internet service, and said the library doesn’t currently have the resources to ensure online access at people’s homes.

“We made a conscious decision to expand the Wi-Fi at the library into the parking lot and patio space to allow for use of the internet outside of library hours,” she said. “It’s not a perfect solution, but with a laptop in hand, a patron could at least have some type of access outside of normal library hours.”

Lyme Public Library is not participating in the program, according to the project website.

Huffman said the Dell Pro 16 computers arrived last month and will be available Nov. 2.

Eight laptops will be available for eligible residents to take home for one year at a time, with the option to renew for additional one-year periods.

Borrowers must be at least 18, have a valid Old Lyme library card and attest that they lack access to a comparable computer at home. They must also participate in a qualifying assistance program, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Medicare or HUSKY Health.

The 2017-21 U.S. Census Data showed there were about 85 Old Lyme households receiving assistance through the SNAP program.

Huffman said residents interested in a long-term loan must schedule an appointment with Jess Steding, the library’s information and technology librarian, to review eligibility and discuss how they plan to use the laptop. Library staff will configure each computer to meet the borrower’s needs and provide basic training before checkout. The initial training is expected to take about an hour, with additional sessions available as needed.

She said Steding and community engagement librarian Allie Lang offer regular one-on-one technology appointments with members of the public in addition to monthly help sessions and workshops at the Lymes’ Senior Center. 

The remaining two laptops will be available for two-hour sessions inside the library, with no eligibility requirements. The library is still developing the reservation and checkout process but expects to make the devices available for uses such as virtual meetings and job interviews.

She said her staff has focused on technology education and assistance in the past rather than providing more expensive computer hardware. The nonprofit library is funded by a combination of municipal support, an endowment, donations and grants.

“We’re pleased to be able to expand the offerings due to this program,” she said.

Residents interested in the program can contact Huffman at khuffman@oldlymelibrary.org or 860-434-1684.

The laptops come with a five-year warranty that includes accidental damage protection, hardware support, battery coverage and mail-in repairs.