ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The St. Louis Public Library will be phasing out its hotspot lending program in early 2026, citing cuts in federal funding.

In an email sent to patrons, the St. Louis Public Library (SLPL) stated that its hotspot lending program aimed to “bridge the digital divide” by making over 12,000 hotspots available. The program was funded by the Federal “Emergency Connectivity Fund,” which provided over $4 million to the library program.

The library stated that the federal program has been cut, and the resulting lack of funding has led them to phase out the program. The circulation of hot spots will end by February 28, 2026.

The last day to place a hold on a hot spot is January 29, 2026. However, SLPL said they cannot guarantee that the hold will be fulfilled by t

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