Community can enjoy new “outdoor library” spaces 365 days a year
MONTCLAIR, NJ (August 25, 2022) — The Montclair Public Library is pleased to offer new permanent outdoor seating in front of the Main Library and Bellevue Avenue Branch. In addition to installing accessible tables, seating, and umbrellas, the Library has expanded the WiFi signal radius and bandwidth to these new areas. Later this fall, two of the umbrellas will use solar energy to provide charging stations for personal devices such as tablets and phones.
“We love when people come into our buildings, but we also want to bring the library to them wherever they are,” says Janet Torsney, Library Director. “Our new outdoor library is a reflection of that and of our intention to make the library as welcoming as possible. We are so grateful to the donors who helped us create these new spaces.”
The outdoor seating and free WiFi are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are not dependent on the operating hours of the Library. They are well-suited for individuals and small groups who do not want to enter the buildings but still want a quiet place to study, work, or browse the web, including the many digital resources available to library cardholders at montclairlibrary.org/digital-library.
This project was made possible by the generous support of the Hyde and Watson Foundation, the Montclair Public Library Foundation, the estate of Kathryn Perino, LibraryLinkNJ, and the Montclair Foundation.
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Photo Caption: (L to R) Adrienne Burke, Technology Specialist, MPL; Peggy Murphy Deehan, Grants Committee Chair, Montclair Foundation; Tim Flowers, Head of Facilities and Security, MPL; Anita Peterson, Director of Development, Montclair Foundation
About the Montclair Public Library
Founded in 1893, the Montclair Public Library serves the residents of Montclair, New Jersey. It has two facilities: the Main Library at 50 S. Fullerton Avenue and the Bellevue Avenue Branch at 185 Bellevue Avenue. The Library has been changing lives every day for over 125 years through words, ideas, and community building by providing unlimited opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and community engagement. Visit montclairlibrary.org for more information.