Today, Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104) joined Newburgh Free Library Executive Director Mary Lou Carolan to announce $30,000 in funding to create a Digital Equity Lab.

Jacobson said, “I am proud to announce that I am awarding a $30,000 Assembly grant to the Newburgh Free Library. Libraries play an essential role in every successful community. They allow young people to explore the world beyond their neighborhoods and classrooms. They also provide a way for adults to expand their skills and horizons and for seniors to enjoy programming and the chance to interact with others.

“The Newburgh Free Library does all those things and more. Now, the library’s Digital Equity Lab will greatly expand digital technology access to all in the Newburgh community,” Jacobson concluded.

Mary Lou Carolan said, “The Newburgh Free Library is very pleased to have the support of Assemblyman Jacobson and the acknowledgement of the important work we do here for the city of Newburgh. This funding will solve very real access issues in our community. With these funds, we will purchase more technology, create a fully equipped studio for pod casts and recorded job interviews, and further instill the library as the place of open access, equity and inclusion for all.”

In response to COVID-related building restrictions, the library added external access points for free Wi-Fi outside of the building a few months ago in response to the building restrictions we faced due to the pandemic and has been loaning laptops and Wi-Fi___33 hotspots to patrons.