---
title: "Libraries Are Now Giving Out Portable WiFi Hotspots For Free"
description: "Canadians can now borrow portable WiFi hotspots from Toronto libraries for free."
date: "2016-06-17"
modified: "2016-11-29"
authors:
  - name: "Charmaine Caparas"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/charmaine"
url: "https://futurism.com/libraries-are-now-giving-out-portable-wifi-hotspots-for-free"
categories:
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "Free WiFi"
  - "Toronto"
---

# Libraries Are Now Giving Out Portable WiFi Hotspots For Free

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/wifi-blog-header1.png>)
*Getty \<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.ncta.com/platform/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wifi-blog-header1.png" target="\_blank"\>NCTA\</a\>\</em\>*

Toronto libraries have upped their [library game](<https://futurism.com/meet-the-digital-library-of-babel-a-complete-combination-of-every-possible-combination-of-letters-ever>) by allowing borrowers to take home, not just books, but WiFi as well.

The city is partnering with Google to offer [portable WiFi hotspots](<http://www.cp24.com/news/google-to-lend-free-wifi-hot-spots-through-toronto-libraries-1.2946620>) to residents living in low-income neighborhoods.

The project's goal is to give free internet to Torontonians who can't afford it. The WiFi hotspots can be borrowed for up to six months at a time in [six library branches](<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-library-wifi-1.3634855?cmp=rss>) around Toronto.

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lots-of-books.jpg>)
*Credit: Toronto Public Library*

"Google hopes to give some of the most underserved in our city a way to bridge the tech divide," the tech giant said in a news release.

Google said that lending out the hotspots, which provides users with 10 gigabytes of data per month, will be a simple and effective way to get people online.