Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Niagara Falls Public Library announces efforts to increase Wi-Fi connectivity, opening of maker space

Submitted

Wed, Dec 1st 2021 12:55 pm

The Niagara Falls Library announces the grand opening of a maker space at 1425 Main St. The opening event will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17. Mayor Robert Restaino and Assemblyman Angelo Morinello will be in attendance.

The Niagara Falls Public Library's maker space will join the maker movement in promoting access to computers, 3-D printers, a coding robot, snap circuits, a mobile device charging station and other high-tech creative tools, and crafting supplies. It is funded under the American Library Association COVID Tech Relief Grant ($45,000) and the Grace Foundation ($4,500).

The mayor’s office said, “This will be a space for Niagara Falls citizens to learn new computer tech skills, participate in the maker movement, and be creative using both high tech as well as soft arts to craft. The ultimate goal is to offer connectivity access to Wi-Fi technology that our citizens might not otherwise have.”

From this location, 200 Chromebooks and 205 Wi-Fi hotspots will be available for citizens to borrow, allowing them access to the internet. Funding in the amount of $133,260 is through phase one of the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Connectivity Fund.

The Niagara Falls Public Library is a recent recipient of a $27,505 grant through the National Library of Medicine – National Institutes of Health, which will provide funding for several new computers and printers and two “quiet/privacy” pods, allowing patrons a quiet and private space to conduct health database research or conduct Zoom videoconferencing calls with medical professionals.

Hometown News

View All News