(GREAT NECK, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D - Great Neck) celebrated the grand opening of a new STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab at the Great Neck Library during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Tuesday, March 12.
Located at the Great Neck Library’s main branch, the lab was financed by a $50,000 Community Revitalization Program (CRP) grant that Legislator Birnbaum secured over the summer.
“Whether by exploring new scenes through the virtual reality goggles or utilizing the 3D printers to create usable and decorative items, this state-of-the-art facility will allow people of all ages to interact with emerging technologies,” Legislator Birnbaum said. “I encourage everyone to visit the STEM lab and take advantage of the wide variety of educational and recreational opportunities it presents.”
The CRP funds were used to purchase Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles, a laser engraver, 3D printers, laptops with gaming capabilities, iPad Minis, Sphero coding robots, littleBits coding sets, Wacom tablets for digital art, iMac computers and a Cricut printer.
“The technology in the STEM Lab allows us to engage patrons in new ways. We are able to offer an opportunity for people to try technology that they would not necessarily have in their own home,” said Adam Hinz, Youth Services Director for the Great Neck Library. “In addition, we are able to provide programming on 3D printing, laser cutting, coding, robotics, and more for children, teens, adults, and senior citizens. Lastly, we can offer opportunities for patrons to bring their own creative ideas to the lab and have us assist in actually producing them.”
PHOTO CAPTION: From left: Rebecca Miller, Great Neck Library Board of Trustees President; Christopher Van Wickler, Emerging Technologies Librarian; Adam Hinz, Youth Services Coordinator; Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum; Denise Corcoran, Library Director; and Josie Pizer, Great Neck Library Board of Trustees Treasurer.