Libraries Without Borders takes San Antonio’s digital divide head-on

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Libraries Without Borders US (LWB US) has been working to promote access to information in underserved communities across the country since 2015. Fundamental to our work is designing and implementing innovative programs that reimagine libraries, often by transforming nontraditional spaces into hubs for community learning and engagement. With this mission in mind, we took our work to the laundromat, prompting the birth of the Wash and Learn Initiative (WALI). The average laundromat user has an income of $28,000; 1 in 4 individuals in this income bracket do not have access to broadband internet. By partnering with local libraries and organizations, LWB US brings not only books, computers, and internet connection directly to laundromats, but also digital skills training and curated resources that promote literacy, digital access, health education, legal information, and other issues. In March 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we completely reimagined our work and distributed ConnectED Technology Kits, backpacks equipped with a laptop, a mobile hotspot, and a curated educational resource packet, to be used at home. Now, with the support of Google Fiber, we are able to safely reimplement programming in our San Antonio WALI laundromats and continue to serve our community.


Libraries Without Borders US takes San Antonio’s digital divide head-on