Connecting Our Community With Digital Resources

By Sarah Wright

We live in a digital world; in fact, our daily lives often can't be separated from it. Want to apply for a job? Most companies now encourage potential employees to fill out applications online. Some may only have online applications available. If you lack access to the internet via a computer or a smartphone, your employment options can be limited. This doesn't touch the tip of the iceberg in terms of the necessities that have moved online.

The Syracuse Public Library strives to reduce the digital gap in our community by providing access to several tech resources. We believe no one should be limited in their life goals because of their finances, lack of device ownership, or level of tech literacy.

Computers, Printing, Wi-Fi, Hotspots, Galore!

SPL offers public computers upstairs and downstairs. These can be signed into using your library card. Not a patron? We offer guest passes so anyone can use the computers to complete their necessary tasks, whether printing out tax forms or mailing labels, completing a test, or simply skimming the news. In the children's department, we also have laptops at the circulation desk that can be checked out for in-library use.

Don't have a printer? Use SPL for your printing or copying needs. Color copies are 25 cents a page, while black-and-white copies are 10 cents. You can also scan documents for free, sending them directly to your email or a flash drive. We can fax documents, too. Faxes are $2 to send (no matter how many pages) and 25 cents per page when receiving them.

Our Wi-Fi is free. Come inside with your own devices, and enjoy surfing the web from our cozy chairs. You can also sit outside and still access it, even from a car. For internet on the go, check out our mobile hotspots. These have been popular additions to the Syracuse Public Library, especially for students, travelers, and really anyone without internet at home. Hotspots can only be checked out by Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township residents and must be returned inside of the library (do not put them in the drop boxes because they are sensitive to temperature extremes). 

Even More Materials

We also have great digital resources that connect our patrons with even more materials, including e-books, audiobooks, comics, magazines, movies, TV shows, educational courses, and music. The best part? It's all free!

Libby offers e-books (which can be sent to secondary devices like a Kindle), audiobooks, magazines, and read-along books. Sign up using your library card number. It also has a browser version, which is accessible at https://idl.overdrive.com. Patrons can check out 10 items at a time.

Hoopla carries much the same with the additions of comics, movies, music, television, and courses. Its BingePasses give access to CuriosityStream, Hoopla Magazines and The Great Courses Video Library Collection -- all while only counting toward one borrow. Users are allowed six borrows per month. Be on the lookout for Bonus Borrows, which allows you to check out select titles without counting toward your monthly limit! The next Bonus Borrows month is May 2022.

​Find more helpful resources on our link page!

One-Of-A-Kind Staff

If you're at a loss, just ask! Our staff is super helpful and eager to tackle your techie questions, both on our public computers or on your personal devices.