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Wi-Fi Hotspots for San José Students

Wifi Icon.

Free Hotspots During the School Year

San José students can borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot with a web filter from the library during the entire 2022-2023 school year.

Here's what you need to know to get started:

What Is a Wi-Fi Hotspot?

A portable Wi-Fi (wifi) hotspot is a pocket-sized mobile device. It uses Wi-Fi to help you connect your devices to the internet without having to plug into anything. Examples of devices you could use with a Wi-Fi hotspot are Chromebooks, iPads and other tablets, laptops, and smartphones. More about hotspots.

What Is a Web Filter?

A web filter is designed to restrict what websites users can visit. There are a few more things to know about web filters:

  • The intent is to block websites considered threatening or harmful.
  • Web filters are not perfect. They can't block all threatening and harmful websites. They may block access to legitimate research sites.
  • Web filters do not protect users from cyber bullying, financial crimes, computer viruses, or other illegal activities.

Learn more about protecting yourself and others online with our Virtual Privacy Lab.

How to Borrow a Wi-Fi Hotspot

  • STEP 1: With an adult, K-12 students living in San José and attending a public school can visit any San José Public Library location to request a filtered Wi-Fi (wifi) hotspot for the school year.
  • STEP 2: Once you arrive for your visit, tell a staff member that you need to check out a filtered hotspot for the school year.
  • STEP 3: Be ready to show your student library card or school ID. This step helps us verify that you are a San José student.
  • STEP 4: Staff will review the Device Policy and User Agreement before your adult signs the document. Here is the agreement if you want to look at it before picking up your hotspot: English | Español | Tiếng Việt.

How to Return Your Wi-Fi Hotspot

  • You do not need to return your device until June 30, 2023.
  • Hand your device to a staff member.
  • Do not return your hotspot in the book drop.

More Details

  • Unlimited High-Speed Wi-Fi: The Unite Express 2 Category 13 Hotspot Wi-Fi (wifi) device comes with an unlimited high speed data plan available for the 2022-2023 school year.
  • Eligibility: K-12 students living in San José and attending a public school are eligible.
  • Cost: This service is being offered at NO COST to students, and there will be no fees for damaged, lost, or stolen devices.
  • 15 Devices Can Connect: Up to 15 mobile-enabled devices (e.g., laptops, tablets, or smartphones) can access Wi-Fi through a single hotspot device.
  • Filtered: Eligible hotspots will have Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) filtering.
  • Setup Guide: Devices are checked out with a setup guide that is translated in Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Tagalog.

Privacy

Your privacy is very important to us. SJPL will only view the following information about your device:

  • Is the Wi-Fi (wifi) hotspot activated?
  • Is it being used within the state limits.

Content filtering prevents anyone connected to the internet through this device from visiting unsafe websites. SJPL is not monitoring or tracking the websites being visited, and can’t see when attempts are made to visit unsafe websites.

COVID-19 Safety

Before visiting an SJPL location, please review our Safety Guidelines.

Need Help?

For more questions, please contact Yadirha Orozco, Literacy Program Specialist, at yadirha.orozco-lemus@sjlibrary.org.

Already Received a Hotspot?

Tell us how having access to a Wi-Fi hotspot device from the library has had a positive impact in your student's life.

Share Your Story

Resources for Students, Families, and Teachers

Once you, your family, or your students have a Wi-Fi (wifi) hotspot device through SJ Access, check out these exciting SJPL programs:

Resources

Program History and Overview

The San José Public Library (SJPL) and the City of San José partner to provide FREE access to the Internet by distributing 12,800 Wi-Fi (wifi) hotspots in the academic school year 2020-2021.

Since then, SJPL has transitioned to a direct checkout program where students can request a filtered hotspot from their local San José Public Library Branch. This device will be checkout to their student library card for 2022-2023 academic school year.