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Since 2015, several municipal libraries across mid-sized cities have begun lending internet-connected devices alongside books, aiming to close the digital divide for residents who lack home broadband. A study conducted across forty public library branches between 2021 and 2024 tracked circulation patterns for tablets, laptops, and portable Wi-Fi hotspots. Researchers found that hotspot lending accounted for the fastest-growing category, with checkout rates rising nearly threefold over the three-year period, particularly among households with school-age children completing homework assignments online. Librarians surveyed for the study noted that demand consistently outstripped supply, with waiting lists at some branches extending beyond six weeks. The study also examined secondary effects: branches that introduced device lending reported a modest increase in overall foot traffic, as patrons visited to pick up or return equipment and often browsed physical collections while there. However, the program was not without complications. Roughly one in five borrowed devices returned with software issues, ranging from unauthorized application installs to exhausted storage, requiring staff time for troubleshooting and reformatting before the next loan. Some branches responded by shortening loan periods from three weeks to two, which reduced repair backlogs but also drew complaints from patrons who felt the shorter window was insufficient for sustained projects. A minority of branches, mostly in wealthier suburbs, saw comparatively low uptake, suggesting the intervention delivers the greatest benefit where existing broadband access is weakest. The researchers concluded that device lending is a low-cost, high-impact strategy for reducing digital exclusion, but recommended that library systems pair it with dedicated technical support staff and clearer usage guidelines to sustain the program without overburdening existing personnel.