City utilities step up to bring free Wi-Fi to Loveland Public Library parking lot

Loveland’s Power Division and Loveland Pulse, the city’s communications utility, have joined forces to sponsor free Wi-Fi access outside of the Loveland Public Library.

The City’s IT department installed the new Wi-Fi access point that extends the library’s current internet connection into the parking lot. The addition allows the public to safely access a high-speed internet connection on their mobile device such as a laptop, tablet or phone from their vehicles or while socially distancing outdoors. The Wi-Fi connection will be available from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and can be accessed by locating the LovelandLibrary network and using LovelandLibrary as the password.

The Library is one of the City’s most accessible places for digital connections. The closure of its technology center for the past few months has prevented many residents from going online to do schoolwork, check email, apply for benefits, seek employment or connect to resources they need. The technology center in the library reopens June 15 but will still need to operate with limited capacity and cleaning protocols due to COVID-19. The Wi-Fi service will keep residents able to connect, learn and live.

“While Pulse internet service is not yet available in the City, we knew we could do more to serve our residents during this critical time by bringing Loveland Power and Pulse together to expand access through the library,” said Joe Bernosky, director of Loveland Water and Power. “Like all City utilities and departments, we exist to serve Loveland and we hope this new service helps our community during such an important time.”

“The Loveland Public Library is committed to connecting people to information, ideas and each other, and access to technology is one of the fundamental ways our citizens are able to stay informed and engaged even when they can’t gather together,” said library director Diane Lapierre. “We are grateful to our partners at Loveland Pulse and across the City for recognizing the importance of connecting to the digital world and providing this extension of our Wi-Fi network outside of the building.”