Upgraded Library Wi-Fi Benefits Parowan Residents and Visitors

Parowan Library was one of the last beneficiaries of a grant managed by UEN to upgrade Wi-Fi services at libraries throughout the state.

The Parowan Library sits in the center of the town of Parowan, at the intersection of Main Street and Center Street. It’s surrounded by a park that includes a playground, a veterans' memorial and a museum. It’s also surrounded by people using the library’s new, upgraded public Wi-Fi.

“The thing I see the most is my homeschool moms, enjoying the sun with their kids,” said Cori Adams, librarian of Parowan Library. But she also sees teenagers, tourists, and even one gentleman who brings his stand-up desk every day to a corner near the veterans’ memorial, works and then packs up his desk at the end of the day.

“Seeing him working outside does my heart good, because you need to get outside,” Adams said. “I have no idea who he is, but he just does his work all day.”

Parowan Library was one of the last beneficiaries of a grant managed by UEN to upgrade Wi-Fi services at libraries throughout the state. As Kelleigh Cole, Director of Policy and Communications at UEN, said, “With limited budgets, many libraries were unable to upgrade Wi-Fi equipment to the latest standards or had dead areas within buildings. This funding opportunity has enabled libraries to provide their patrons with faster, more reliable internet that reaches all areas of the building.”

In many cases, such as Parowan’s, these grants not only ensured the equipment was up to date but also increased the Wi-Fi range to include the outdoor areas surrounding the library. This expanded range enables the library to offer Wi-Fi to patrons even during hours when the library is closed.

“I sleep better at night knowing, even when I’m gone, that they can use it,” Adams said.

In Parowan, the library also has the only public Wi-Fi in town, which makes a big difference for another user base: tourists. “We’re a tourist town,” said Adams. “We’re right on I-15, and we’re right by at least three national parks.”

Adams has seen tourists come in with urgent Wi-Fi needs that go well beyond checking the weather. “I've had people stop at the library, and they say, ‘I need to get on your Wi-Fi, my cousin died, and I want to watch the funeral.’” On another occasion, a parent participating in a child custody negotiation stopped in because they needed to meet with their lawyer.

As Cole said, “Libraries are increasingly becoming vital technology hubs—supporting both individuals and community groups with essential digital access and tools.”

To increase awareness about Wi-Fi services, Adams has posted signs at every library entrance that explain how to access the Wi-Fi and when it is available. As a public safety measure, Adams said, the library only offers Wi-Fi from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., which prevents some undesirable littering and loitering that the library experienced when it offered the service 24 hours a day.

The library doesn’t lack for troubles—the aging building has problems in almost every system, including the electrical system that powers its Wi-Fi. But right now, the residents of and visitors to Parowan are enjoying the transformative technology the library provides to everyone, free of charge.

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