The Orillia Public Library has received a $40,000 grant from the federal government to support the Digital Connections and Access for Seniors Project.
It aims to provide virtual and digital solutions that address changing community needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding will be used to purchase a new lending collection of iPads and mobile hotspots, which will be made available to older individuals in a variety of settings and allow patrons who do not otherwise have access to devices or data to engage with the digital world.
OPL will work with care homes, retirement homes, and independent living homes, as well as homebound library patrons in Orillia and the surrounding area.
Through this combination of services, OPL aims to support seniors with a broad range of needs, including those who are most isolated, in connecting for informational purposes and social enrichment through the internet.