The Friends and Foundation of the Albany Public Library (FFAPL) is one of three area nonprofits to receive a prestigious grant from Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to support their work aimed at bridging the digital divide.
Libraries have always been the primary bridge over the digital divide, and for many people, libraries are their only source for internet service. Pre-pandemic, each month at the Albany Public Library’s seven branches, more than 12,000 patrons used the library’s public computers and more than 7,000 people accessed WiFi on their own devices. Access to the internet from those sources enables people to apply for jobs online, stay connected to family through email and social media, and continue to be engaged members of the community.
The FFAPL will use the $133,000 in support to provide high-speed internet access, Chromebooks, and digital literacy education to Albany Housing Authority (AHA) residents. This project will be an expansion of the pilot APL-AHA partnership that began in 2019, which to date has provided free APL WiFi at four outdoor locations at AHA campuses.
The expansion will also provide access to 14 indoor and outdoor locations on 10 AHA campuses; 60 laptops to give to qualifying residents; and 40 laptops for community spaces, available during set borrowing hours. In addition, three program partners – Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, Excelsior College, and Lifepath – will provide outreach and educational opportunities for AHA residents during the grant period.
“FFAPL has been working since September 2020 to support the APL in expanding their broadband coverage beyond the walls of the library with our #KeepAlbanyConnected campaign. The APL-AHA Digital Inclusion Partnership will dramatically expand what has been offered so far,” said DTrae Carter, President of FFAPL. “We are already getting to work to ensure that this service can continue until 2030. The assistance this grant provides to our Albany community will be especially valuable as we strive to bridge the digital divide.”
The pandemic, which caused a pause on in-person services and a shift to digital connection, showed the importance of individuals in the community having easy access to internet service.
“When the pandemic forced education online in 2020, Albany Public Library brought free public WiFi to four Albany Housing Authority campuses that helped students access daily lessons and complete homework assignments. Twenty percent of Albany Housing residents use the free WiFi service at those locations,” said Melanie Metzger, Interim Director of the Albany Public Library. “We are thrilled to expand that service to even more residents who will be able to access WiFi from a number of spots, including indoor and outdoor locations, on Albany Housing campuses. This project is one way that Albany Public Library is helping bridge the digital divide in our community.”
In addition to the FFAPL, CanCode Communities and the United Way of the Greater Capital Region were the other two recipients of the Schmidt Futures grant.
For more information about the grantee projects and details on the upcoming 2022 Digital Inclusion Innovation funding opportunity, please visit digitalinclusion.org/nydifund.
