WiFi Hotspots FAQs

  • General Questions

    Anyone who has an OPL library card can borrow a Hotspot! 

    If you do not have a library card, you can apply for one online or in person. 

    There is no charge to borrow and use an OPL Wi-Fi Hotspot! 

    You can check out and use a mobile hotspot for free for 21 days.  If you lose the hotspot or damage it beyond repair, we will charge a $50 fee to your library account.

    You can borrow a hotspot for 21 days! 

    There are often many people waiting to borrow a hotspot, so please return the hotspot on time.  The hotspot will stop giving you access to the internet after the due date.  The hotspot will automatically renew if no one else is waiting to borrow it.  However, there is often a waiting list for hotspots.

    To turn on the hotspot, press and hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the display says “Welcome!”.

    If the hotspot will not turn on, it needs to be charged.

    In the Wi-Fi settings on your device, choose the hotspot name (Franklin T9) and enter the password Oaklandlibrary.  If this password does not work, press the power button three times and the new password will be displayed.

    The Wi-Fi is active when the signal strength and Wi-Fi indicator lights up.  The number of devices connected appears next to the Wi-Fi indicator.

    To turn off your hotspot, press and hold the power button until the display says “Goodbye!”.

    The hotspot will let you access the internet anywhere in the United States with a 3G, 4G or LTE data network.

    When the display says “Low Battery”, or if the hotspot will not turn on or stay powered on, the hotspot will need to be charged.

    Connect the included cable to the hotspot and plug it in into the electrical socket to start charging.  When the hotspot is powered off, it will take about three hours to fully charge.

    You can return the hotspot to any Oakland Public Library location!

    Also, please return the hotspot fully charged and with all accessories.

    We care about your privacy when you use an OPL Hotspot. 

    Because the OPL Hotspot program is an “opt-in” service, we want you to understand what information about internet usage is tracked or used:

    • We do not have access to or collect your internet usage data. We do not provide information to the ISP.
    • We do not allow the ISP to use ad-targeting programs (“supercookies”) to identify you or track your internet usage.
    • Data is never kept on the OPL Hotspot.

    We make it easy to get online with an Oakland Public Library (OPL) Hotspot. If you have a Library card, you can check out a hotspot for free from any Library location. Since they are so popular, we recommend you put a hold on an OPL Hotspot. Then use it to connect your tablet, laptop or other Wi-Fi-enabled device to the Internet. You can borrow an OPL Hotspot for 21 days.

    The OPL Hotspot is easy to use and gives you a wireless connection to the internet. Just turn it on, and you are ready to connect up to 15 devices. With the OPL Hotspot, you can use your device to do research on the internet, shop at your favorite website, download movies and music from the Library – and more.

    Great news--anywhere! Every OPL location offers a WiFi network for you to use with any device. 

    You can also borrow an OPL WiFi Hotspot to take home.