The Flathead County Library Board voted Thursday to continue a Covid-era wireless internet hotspot program through donation assets.

Board Chair Dave Ingram and Trustees Jane Wheeler and Doug Adams voted in support of continuing the program after multiple patrons stepped forward offering funds to continue the program for at least three years.   

Adams, who was previously unsure about the merit of the program, stated on Thursday that he supports continuing it since it won’t affect taxpayers or burden library operations.  

Vice Chair Carmen Cuthbertson, who has been vocal about her opposition to the program being run by the library, abstained from the vote. Trustee Heidi Roedel was absent.   

The hotspots, portable devices that provide wireless internet access, first became available at the library in 2020 via a Digital Competitive Grant from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration. The Montana State Library started the hotspot program in July 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Funding ran out at the end of June.  

Drawing on the grant, the Flathead County Library had around 50 hotspots to give out to patrons.    

“Our approximately 50 hotspots, systemwide, are in high demand, with all units regularly checked out and a consistent waitlist for their use,” Library Director Teri Dugan said earlier this summer.    

Dugan said that continuing the program would cost the library system $1,200 a year for 11 hotspots.  

“I am willing to pay,” patron Carmen Hemmen said, saying she uses the hotspots for work and when visiting homes without service.   

Cuthbertson argued that the hotspot program was unreliable and represented a welfare program rather than a library service, stating that it is not the job of the library to serve the underserved or the disadvantaged.   

“I very much appreciate any community member who wants to donate to help somebody less fortunate, but the library hotspot program does not serve that purpose, it never did, and it wouldn't in the future either,” Cuthbertson said.     

Wheeler argued that the job of the library is to provide informational materials to anyone and everyone.   

“I keep in mind that when somebody checks out a book... I don't say its welfare. When somebody uses the highway, it’s not welfare. When somebody uses the library telescope because they can't afford one, it's not welfare,” she said.  “I don't have any responsibility as a library board member or as a librarian to question why someone takes out something in the library. Thats the same with hotspots.” 

Valeri McGarvey, another patron who was in attendance, stated that her family was also willing to donate. When Cuthbertson asked why she wanted to donate to the cause, McGarvey stated that it's because the community has expressed how important it is to them.   

“If you want to raise money for your [new] library, meet the needs of your community cheerfully. We're trying to help you, we want to do it. We don't have judgment about what people do with [the things they check out], we just want to provide it,” McGarvey said.   

There was also an anonymous donor who has already given the Flathead Library Foundation funds to continue the program for three years, Sharon Furlong, a foundation board member, said at the meeting.   

PRIOR TO THE discussion about hotspots, Ingram spoke about the board’s relationship with fundraising nonprofits, specifically the Flathead Library Foundation. The board in June rejected a fundraising agreement the foundation had presented, which asked trustees to offer unanimous support for efforts to build a new Kalispell library branch. 

The decision, which came as a shock to foundation officials, was made after Ingram expressed frustration with how slow the process was of signing a fundraising agreement.   

On Thursday, Ingram made a motion to require any nonprofit organization accepting funds for the library only be used for priorities as defined and approved by the library. For example, Ingram said, if someone donated funds for a mobile library truck, the nonprofit would have to decline the donation and hope the money is redesignated.   

“I think that this could be done on an individual basis,” Wheeler said. “I fear that the blanket statement is going to, again, have the foundation sort of saying ‘Oh, you want to control everything we do.’ And I can see where they might have that opinion.”  

Ingram said the goal of the motion is to “increase coordination and communication,” not create less of it. After board discussion and public comment, the motion was withdrawn.   

The library board also approved a few thank you letters to send to donors, confirmed that they are still working to secure the new Kalispell branch location at Kalispell Center Mall and discussed the need for roof repairs at the Bigfork branch.  

No action was taken on the roof, but Ingram said that the board will reapproach the topic at their next meeting in September. 

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].