Oklahoma Broadband Office Announces Nation’s First Statewide Initiative to Expand Access to Essential Services Through Public Libraries

The Oklahoma Broadband Office announced a new $14.5 million initiative to expand access to healthcare, workforce services, and digital skills training through Oklahoma's public libraries. The program will make up to 175 community access portals available to libraries across the state, creating new opportunities for Oklahomans to access essential services closer to home. Through this initiative, libraries will be transformed into community access points where residents can participate in virtual primary care appointments, complete telehealth consultations, attend remote job interviews, receive workforce development services, and build digital literacy skills in a secure, private environment. The program’s scale is a national first, with over 75 rural libraries and regional library systems expressing interest in an initial survey from the Oklahoma Broadband Office. This program is made possible through the ARPA Capital Projects Fund.