Madison Public Library outlines device lending, training and data use in digital inclusion push

Pat Garvey, an information-technology specialist with the Madison Public Library, described the library’s digital-inclusion services and partnerships during the Dane County Broadband Task Force meeting on April 2.

Garvey listed the library’s freely available services — public Internet stations and Wi‑Fi, scanners and archiving stations, in‑house iPads and laptops, podcast and media kits for checkout, augmented-communication device lending for patrons who use assisted-speech hardware, printing, copying and faxing — and said those services remain in steady demand. "Computer use, that's a 40,000 sessions that took place in a library," Garvey said, citing library metrics.

The presentation emphasized resources aimed at removing short-term access barriers. Garvey said the library circulates hybrid-meeting spaces that residents may use for public events or broadcasting; the library has digital displays at branch locations and LanguageLine headsets that let staff access on-demand translation for patrons who speak other languages. The library runs two 2-1-1 kiosks to connect people to food, shelter and social services, and ongoing tax-assistance sessions that Garvey called among the most heavily used programs.

Garvey described hands-on training targeted to older adults, including classes on email, cybersecurity and a recent session about artificial intelligence, run by a library colleague identified as Martin. "He teaches classes, for calming computer jitters," Garvey said, adding that some classes were grant-funded and that staff have used training to help patrons complete tasks ranging from retirement-fund access to mobile-phone setup.

Garvey said the library is exploring broader device-lending efforts. "Chromebooks ... are probably the easiest device to manage," Garvey said, and noted she would like libraries to circulate Chromebooks with cellular capability to provide an all-in-one device for patrons. She estimated a baseline Chromebook with cellular capability can be obtained in the roughly $300–$400 range. The library also piloted a loaner Wi‑Fi hotspot program under a South Central Library System grant; Garvey said the pilot reached communities but the grant ended and continuing the program requires a sustainable funding source.

City digital-inclusion staff and partners were described as active collaborators. Cas, from City IT, told the task force the library is “one of our vital anchor institutions,” and highlighted regular programming coordination with the senior center, DaneNet and community partners including the Black Business Hub and Centro Hispano. Garvey and Cas also cited coordination with the Madison Metropolitan School District and a partnership with EPIC and the University of Wisconsin to train community health workers on MyChart.

Garvey described a robust library data program used to plan services and facilities. The library uses people counters and geolocation maps to understand patron travel patterns and event attendance; staff said this data informed site selection for a planned Imagination Center and future branch planning. Garvey said the library compiles an annual community-data report that helps demonstrate the value of library services to taxpayers.

Garvey acknowledged staffing limitations: libraries can host events, lend equipment and train patrons, but staff time is scarce. She invited the task force and local partners to propose aligned goals the library could support, while noting capacity and compliance constraints when resources cross city and consortium systems.

The presentation closed with an offer to follow up on programming or to connect task-force members with Martin, the library staff member who leads program development.

Ending: Task-force members thanked Garvey and discussed potential county-level coordination to connect the Madison library’s services with other local providers.