DECATUR — The Van Buren District Library is closing the digital divide in Southwest Michigan through its Mobile Internet Hotspot lending program in partnership with Mobile Beacon, a nonprofit provider of cellular broadband internet services.

Since launching in early 2022, the program has empowered library patrons across Van Buren County to access high-speed internet from home, school, or on the go, no matter where they live. According to a news release, this service has become a lifeline for many in a rural region where broadband access is often unreliable or unavailable.