Wired for Opportunity is a Digital Equity Initiative of the Monroe County Library System. This project is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0206 awarded to Monroe County, New York by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This initiative began to provide the residents of Monroe County with the ability to access digital resources through technology training, access to mi-fis, solar table placement, and a subscription to web-based learning resource Udemy.
One important facet of the Wired for Opportunity program is technology training classes provided at no cost to students. The classes will range from basic computer and phone skills to courses like social media and web development and will award the students with a free device, either a Chromebook or Google Pixel Tablet, depending on the class curriculum’s device focus. Each student will be provided a device to use on site for the course’s four class duration. These courses will run from mid-2025 through 2026 and be available at a variety of locations across the county.
Please note that devices will be awarded one per person per household, while supplies last.
To search for computer classes, please go here: Wired for Opportunity Classes
Lack of access to free and low-cost Wi-Fi services is a major barrier for elders and individuals in rural and low-income areas. The MiFi program, where MiFi mobile hotspots are available for checkout at the Central Library, aims to break down this barrier. These units are able to be checked out for 3 week periods, and we are pushing to have 1,000 MiFi units available by the end of 2025. MiFi units are the most popular items checked out of libraries, with over 5,200 check-outs last year. Our plan for Wi-Fi access also includes the placement of 10 solar-powered charging tables with their own W-Fi hotspots to provide 24/7 internet access and device charging.
Udemy is an online learning platform that boasts over 4,000 on-demand video courses on subjects ranging from instructional design to meditation to digital art. The Monroe County Library System now has a subscription to Udemy and has made it available to everyone with a library card in Monroe County. This aims to provide access to educational content for everyone in the county, regardless of age or socioeconomic status.
To learn more contact:
Instructional Designer and Technology Coordinator:
Anna Neumaier at 585-428-8002 or anna.neumaier@libraryweb.org
Administrative Coordinator:
Rich Mangione at 585-428-8016 or rich.mangione@libraryweb.org
Learn more about digital equity here: