Mediatech Foundation was established in March 2001 as a non-profit organization, and opened to the public in May 2003. It was designed to provide free public access to all forms of digital technology, and demonstrate that such a model could work in a small public library setting, built by volunteers with minimal funds.
GOALS
- To improve the quality of life in Flemington, NJ
- To give middle and high school students a wholesome, safe, supervised, fun, highly social option in the after school hours
- To provide access to powerful technology to anyone, for as many hours as possible
- To give other groups in Flemington a high-tech meeting place where they can have access to a large screen projector, reliable Internet access and meeting facilitation software
- To give the parents of younger children a place to borrow software, video games and technology toys
- To provide free public access to the latest technology, for each developmental level.
- To provide a smart learning lab resource to any member of the community with free access to a variety of computer-aided instruction resources
- To provide a national model for others, who want to create similar centers in their towns.
PLEASE SEE “FRIENDS OF MEDIATECH” FOR A LIST OF DONORS
School Library Journal (August 2011) describes Mediatech “Based in the Flemington (NJ) Free Public Library” (FFPL) Mediatech is open two to four hours a day, five days a week, the center’s a place for neighborhood kids to come hang out and mess with technology that many wouldn’t otherwise have access to. There are no kidney-shaped designer tables here and the lone iPad sits tethered in a corner. But the 836-square-foot room is neat and clean, the computers work, and the students who come to shoot the breeze and play games don’t care so much that the space doesn’t resemble an Apple store. They’re just happy that it exists.
“I don’t have a lot of money and I’d come to this place before I had my own computer so I could use the Internet” says Joe, a graduating senior at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, a small town of 4,600 about 50 miles from midtown Manhattan. “I use it to borrow the games and they’re all free” says Joe, who’s been a regular since the Mediatech Foundation opened its doors in 2003. “But it’s not just where you go and play games. People are talking to each other. People make friends here.”
Mediatech is a NJ Non-Profit Organization EIN: 22-3798843) was established in March, 2001 in Flemington, NJ, and opened to for public use on May 23, 2004. It was established to provide technology access to Hunterdon County residents while fostering creativity, learning and socialization. It is a local organization with national meaning.
LOCATION: 118 Main Street Second Floor, Flemington NJ 08822 USA
CONTACT: mediatechnj@gmail.com or call (908) 782-5733
WHO CAN COME: Anyone. You must have a library card to check out games. You must sign in, which means you agree to the acceptable use policy. Mediatech also has an unattended minor policy.
Mediatech’s D-U-N-S Number is 556054091
Mediatech offers a large circulating library of E and T rated video games,
as well as the hardware to play them.
TERMS OF USE
Mediatech is a public organization. No filtering software is used, and mainstream browsers are used to access the Internet. Mediatech is a child-friendly organization; to this end, any content on any screen must be OK for children to view. The supervisor reserves the right to observe screens, and screen content may be video taped or recorded on the a public web cam. Notices about the use of cameras and identity protection measures are posted at the entrance.
Before going online, members are required to read the following guidelines and agree to abide by the following conditions of use.
* I will not visit “bad” Internet sites or use software that is not OK for young children.
* I understand that nothing is private in the Mediatech. Browser histories may be checked, and Instant Message accounts may be observed.
* Mediatech is a public, community place. The Mediatech board of Trustees uses the following guidelines to determine what conforms to common community standards for materials viewed on Mediatech screens.
1. Motion Picture Association of America ratings (http://www.mpaa.org). All content will be G, PG, or PG-13. No R or NC-17 content may be viewed on any Mediatech screen.
2. Entertainment Software Rating Board (http://www.esrb.org). All software content must conform to E or T ratings. No Mature (M) or Adults Only (AO) content may be viewed on any Mediatech screen.
• I will not violate copyright laws. The Mediatech circulates a great deal of copyrighted material, and houses hardware that can be used for making copies. The Copyright Act (codified at Title 17 of the United States Code) states that an original work of authorship that is entitled to copyright protection includes literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works, regardless of whether they are published and unpublished.
* I will take care of the Mediatech and obey the supervisor. I will share the computers with others (making sure other people get a turn). I will respect the rights of others, not downloading files (such as spyware) that might harm a Mediatech computer, using the Mediatech network for illegal activities, keeping my work area clean, and so on. This center belongs to everyone.
• I will not use the Mediatech for commercial purposes. The computers, printers, Internet access and software resources in the Mediatech are not to be used for ongoing commercial purposes without the approval of the Mediatech Supervisor.
* I will return things I use or borrow. Overdue materials will be charged 30¢ per day. Damaged materials will be charged for replacement. The Mediatech takes no responsibility for any damage software may do to any computer’s operating system.
* I will not be discriminated against or bullied, by any person. The Mediatech is a place of equal rights for all visitors. I will take turns with popular games, and will not bother or bully other visitors. If I feel my rights are being violated, I will report this to the Mediatech Board of Directors (Warren Buckleitner warren at mediatech.org) or Sandra Burocki.
I AGREE TO THESE CONDITIONS AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEDIATECH SUPERVISOR MAY PERMANENTLY TAKE AWAY MY MEMBERSHIP CARD IMMEDIATELY — AT HIS OR HER DISCRETION — IF ANY OF THESE GUIDELINES ARE BROKEN.