Forty public library services across England this week find out that their applications to receive a share of a £750,000 ICT cash boost from the UK online Public Libraries Challenge Fund were successful.
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the University for Industry (Ufi) awarded the grants to enhance the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provision of public libraries to local communities, particularly excluded groups.
The funding builds on the success of the People's Network which brought internet access to all public libraries in the UK. It also recognises the important role that public libraries play as part of the UK online centres network.
Chris Batt, Chief Executive of MLA, welcomes the announcement saying: "These exciting projects were clearly able to demonstrate how new ICT facilities would help serve existing library users, as well as attracting new ones. All of these library services recognised that simply buying new equipment is not enough, and that innovation is best demonstrated by how that new equipment is used."
Sarah Jones, Chief Executive at Ufi, the company behind the UK online centre network, added: "Transforming access to learning and public services through technology is a priority for Ufi, and the Challenge Fund will allow these libraries to do just that. Innovation is key in reaching new audiences and communities, and I look forward to seeing the results from these projects as they continue to widen access to Public Library UK online centre facilities."
The successful public library services to receive the funding are Derby, Nottinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Blackburn With Darwen, Bury, Halton, Manchester, Oldham, Buckinghamshire, Isle Of Wight, Oxfordshire, Slough, Gloucestershire, Poole, Somerset, Birmingham, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Walsall, Kingston Upon Hull, Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Newham, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.
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