Friday 29th March 2024
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Rhea Library Doing What It Can To Ease Stress Of Upcoming School Year

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By Shannon McFarlin News Director

Paris, Tenn.–With parents and students stressed out over the upcoming school year, the W.G. Rhea Library in Paris is taking important steps to ease some of that worry.

Distance learning will be required more and more which means families need internet access which is not always available to all. Many families do not have internet access for economic reasons or because of where they are located in Henry County.

The Rhea Library is doing all it can to provide access to free Wifi, hot spots and laptops for the community. And it’s free.

The Paris Parks Department delivered several picnic tables to the library today for those using the Wifi that is available at the building 24 hours a day and has hot spots and laptops ready for the community to use.

Library Director Kathy Collins noted that the Wifi is available to everyone 24 hours a day. “Even when we’re closed, people can still use our Wifi. We have a really strong signal and it covers the outside of the library, the entire parking area and over to the grassy area between the library and L.I. Smith.”

If the weather does not permit using the picnic tables, people can sit in their cars and use the Wifi, she said.

Children’s Librarian Kayla Nation said no password is required to use the Wifi. And there are three security lights outside the library for those who want to come in the evening hours.

Collins said hot spots were received by the library through a Tennessee CARES grant and more hot spots will be coming shortly. “People can check those out a week at a time, but they are in demand right now–there is a waiting list for them.”

The additional hot spots that are coming to the library will be available for bundling with the hot spots. “In other words people in the community will be able to check out one hot spot with one laptop for a week at a time,” Collins said.

The library also has laptops that can be used at the library, as long as patrons are spread out to accomodate social distancing.

“All of this available free and we just want people to know these resources are available here and they’re open to everyone in the community,” Collins said.

The phone number for the library is 731 642 1702.

Photo: Stacy and Mason Smith were taking advantage of the free Wifi outside the library Wednesday afternoon. The picnic tables were delivered to the library earlier today by the parks department. (Kayla Nation photo).

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