Prairie River Library District expands digital access in rural Idaho with AARP grant

By Laura Hatch, Northern Rockies News Service//June 29, 2026//

Sandpoint, Idaho, is one of 12 communities in the state receiving a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant. The Community Resource Envision Center will use its $12,000 award for a covered bus shelter with seating and signage at a busy bus stop, making it easier for older adults to use. (PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK via NRNS)

By Laura Hatch, Northern Rockies News Service//June 29, 2026//

Listen to this article

Library patrons in rural Idaho will get better Wi-Fi access through new AARP grant funding intended to help people of all ages, especially seniors.

At a Glance:

Prairie River Library District awarded nearly $18,000 from AARP
Funding supports mobile Wi-Fi, Chromebooks, Kindle readers in Stites
AARP commits over $8 million to 750 projects nationwide

The Prairie River Library District branch in the remote town of Stites is receiving nearly $18,000 from AARP’s Community Challenge program. The money will go toward mobile Wi-Fi hot spots, Chromebooks and Kindle readers. The library plans to install 24-seven pickup lockers in town, where people can retrieve library holds and check out the devices.

Ellamae Burnell, director of the Prairie River Library District, said the project will be a major boost in a town with limited library services.

“We do a pop-up library twice a month, and that’s kind of the extent of library services currently offered there,” Burnell explained. “It is in an area where there’s not a good broadband connection or access to telephone services, so this will really help people get connected and stay connected.”

The Lapwai Community Library Branch in Idaho’s panhandle received a grant to turn a side lot into a courtyard with garden beds and benches. Burnell added the space will support outdoor exercise classes for seniors and give people of all ages a quiet place to relax.

AARP awarded 12 grants in Idaho and is committing more than $8 million to 750 projects nationwide. AARP said the quick-action projects share a goal of making communities more livable.

Nancy LeaMond, chief advocacy and engagement officer for AARP, said the program sparks connections not just for seniors but for everyone, without the long-term planning often seen for public spaces.

“What sets this program apart is its speed and its direct connection to real community needs,” LeaMond said. “Communities don’t have to wait years for results. These projects come to life in just a few months.”

Grant recipients have until mid-December to implement their projects. The program marks its 10th anniversary in 2026.

This story was provided by Northern Rockies News Service, a bureau of the Public News Service.