The Durham County Library (DCO) has been awarded a $40,000 state grant to enhance its Maker + STEAM unit. This funding, provided through the Library Services and Technology Act and distributed by the State Library of North Carolina, will be used to purchase updated equipment such as a laser cutter, mobile battery banks for offsite programming, and 3D scanners. The goal is to ensure equal access to these technologies by offering necessary training and collaborating with local organizations.

Caroline Flory, the Maker + STEAM librarian and the grant’s project manager, highlighted the impact of this funding, stating that many of the items would be prohibitively expensive for individuals to purchase. The grant allows the library to offer these technologies for free to library cardholders and outreach partners, fostering increased accessibility and information literacy within the community.