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BOSTON - Tuesday,
June 15, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, in collaboration with the Boston Public Library
(BPL), the Environment Department and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban
Mechanics, will install outdoor pop-up connected work/learn spaces at six
locations and continue offering free, 24-hour Wi-Fi at 14 of its
branches. The BPL Outdoor Wi-Fi pop-ups will provide desks, additional
lighting, and shade structures, allowing users to get online after hours
and stay cool on hotter days. This project is part of the City’s ongoing
efforts to expand equitable internet access, support community
resilience, and create new points of community connection for residents
emerging from a year of social distancing and increased social
isolation.
“Whether it’s
coming to the BPL to access books and engage with our learning programs,
get online, or step out of the sun on a summer day, we recognize that
libraries often serve as a community living room and are a vital
neighborhood resource for many reasons,” said Mayor Janey. “We want to
continue supporting all of the ways in which libraries make Boston and
its residents more informed, creative, and resilient—both coming out of
this pandemic and into the future.”
Pop-up
workstations at the Brighton, Codman Square, Mattapan, and Grove Hall
branch libraries will be installed in the month of June. As part of the
City's Climate Ready Boston program, the Mayor's Office of Environment,
Energy, and Open Space will add two additional locations at the Egleston
Square and East Boston branches in July to provide increased shade and
cooling resources. All locations will remain installed until October
2021. 24-hour outdoor Wi-Fi at all 14 locations is permanent and
available year-round. To access the Internet, users will need to bring
their own device, such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone or borrow one
from the library through the BPL’s device loan program.
“Today's public
libraries provide critical resources for residents, both daily and in
times of crisis. In the twenty-first century, that requires providing
access to devices, connectivity, and skills to help close the digital
equity gap,” said BPL President David Leonard. “Extended outdoor Wi-Fi at
branches is one more way of removing barriers to opportunity and
providing a space to patrons that is safe and welcoming. Inside or out,
the library will always be there for our communities.”
In addition to
supporting the needs of residents who are still learning and working remotely,
the BPL recognizes that its spaces function as essential community
resource hubs, providing access to a range of services and amenities to
support learning, wellness and social connections. City services will
also be provided at some BPL pop-up locations. The Boston Summer Eats program, which distributes free grab-and-go
meals, will operate Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Mattapan (9am-11am),
Codman Square (1-3 pm), and Grove Hall (4-6 pm) pop-up locations.
Starting in July, the Office of Housing Stability, which helps residents
find and maintain stable, safe and affordable housing, will offer
application assistance for tenants applying for the Rental Relief Fund on
Tuesdays at Mattapan and Thursdays at Grove Hall.
"Climate
change is happening, and Boston is getting hotter. Bostonians are strong,
but the same residents that have been disproportionately affected by the
pandemic also bear the burden of increased heat," said Rev. Mariama
White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. "This
partnership with the Boston Public Library provides outdoor work spaces
that help residents stay safe and cool, access critical resources online,
and learn how to protect themselves and their families from extreme heat
today. Helping Boston recover, reopen and renew means making sure folks
stay safe and cool this summer."
Adapting access to
the BPL throughout the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the number of
Boston residents who rely on the BPL’s resources to access the Internet
for essential information about City services, online learning, and other
resources such as employment opportunities. Last summer, the BPL
installed outdoor Wi-Fi at 14 branches to ensure that reliable Internet
access remained available even when the BPL’s doors were closed.
In Boston and
across the United States, many families lack reliable Internet access,
creating a digital divide that reinforces inequality. According to a recent Pew Study, more than 40 percent of low-income
Americans making less than $30,000 lack access to broadband Internet.
Outdoor Wi-Fi at Boston Public Libraries will help fill this critical gap
more reliably for residents across the city.
The Central
Library at Copley Square and all branch libraries are now open for limited
in-person services. To learn more about the library’s available walk-in
and by appointment services, safety requirements, and other reopening
information visit bpl.org/reopening.
Outdoor Wi-Fi
locations: Adams St., Brighton, Codman Square, Connolly, East Boston,
Egleston Square, Grove Hall, Honan-Allston, Hyde Park, Lower Mills,
Mattapan, Parker Hill, Roxbury, South End, West Roxbury. South Boston outdoor
Wi-Fi available during opening hours. |
