Jersey City Free Public Library Awarded NASA Grant

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Jersey City Free Public Library is one of 60 libraries across the nation to receive the NASA@ My Library grant.

The grant is part of a STEAM or science, technology, engineering and math, initiative offered by the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute and in partnership with the American Library Association Public Programs Office, Lunar and Planetary Institute and Education Development Center.

The program was created to increase and enhance STEAM learning opportunities for library patrons throughout the nation, including geographic areas and populations currently underrepresented in STEAM education.

The JCFPL will receive resources, training, and support in STEAM areas to expand its offerings. The program allows JCFPL to host NASA events and programming, have access to a university subject-matter expert to support patron engagement, and receive $1,600 for programming expenses.

The grant arrives as the JCFPL anticipates the opening of the Communipaw Branch Library, located at 295 Johnston Avenue, Jersey City. This next-generation library will be focused on STEAM and will be a makerspace hub for the JCFPL library system. It will also be the Library’s eleventh location.