I thought I would share that I was invited to present at Merit Network’s Michigan Broadband Summit about Van Buren District Library’s surprising status as Mobile Beacon’s number one library distributor of cellular broadband data nationwide. The presentation is entitled "Escape Velocity: How A Rural Library System Became a National Leader in Digital Access” and will be conducted the afternoon of October 14 at Huntington Place in Detroit. Please find the description and the conference agenda below; I hope to see some of my colleagues there: When the Van Buren District Library launched its hotspot lending program in 2022, it began as a modest experiment modeled after a neighboring library. Just three years later, VBDL has grown into Mobile Beacon’s largest library partner in the nation, with more than 420 hotspots in circulation and over 300 terabytes of data consumed in just six months of 2025. This presentation shares the story of how a rural Michigan library—serving communities where poverty and lack of broadband access remain daily challenges—leveraged partnerships, grant funding, and strong policy frameworks to transform digital access for its patrons. From unexpected opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic to a successful millage campaign, VBDL’s journey demonstrates how libraries can bridge the digital divide, innovate in times of scarcity, and deliver on the promise of equal access for all. https://web.cvent.com/event/449ea887-7323-4b94-8900-eee75fdc76a1/summary Dan Hutchins Executive Director Van Buren District Library 200 North Phelps Street Decatur, MI 49045 dhutchins@vbdl.org ph: 269-423-4771 www.vbdl.org