Hardware

NJ library plans 24-hour self-service kiosk

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August 25, 2026

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The Paterson Public Library in New Jersey plans to install a 24-hour self-service kiosk outside the Community Center at The Heritage in the city's Alexander Hamilton neighborhood, according to a TapIntoPaterson report. The $193,314 project will feature an ADA-accessible EnvisionWare kiosk intended to extend library services to an area without a nearby traditional branch.

Residents with active Paterson Free Public Library cards will be able to check out and return materials, place and retrieve holds, browse the library catalog and access digital resources, including e-books and audiobooks. The kiosk will remain available even when the community center is closed, helping address barriers such as transportation, distance, limited library hours and residents' work or family schedules.

The project is being funded through the Community Center Digital Connect Grant Program's Capital Project Fund and is expected to be installed this fall. The contract with EnvisionWare includes delivery, installation, a canopy and one year of maintenance. Library officials said the kiosk offers a cost-effective way to expand access while complementing existing digital and remote services. The broader community center project will also add computers and an audio-video studio to support technology skills and career development.