West Sussex libraries get £56,000 WiFi funding

WIRELESS internet connections will be upgraded across West Sussex libraries after the county council was awarded a chunk of £2.6million funding.
NewsNews
News

West Sussex County Council is one of 68 authorities which successfully bid for Arts Council funding, which will see £56,000 invested.

The funding will improve coverage and speed.

A county council spokesman said: “There will be improved coverage, making access better across larger areas of each library. This allows more flexible use, and increased capacity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“For some libraries this will represent a significant improvement. I isn’t always possible to arrange the layout of tables to match the reception.

“Speed will also improve. Increasingly customers expect good speed and for many this determines whether they rate the service good or bad.”

The Arts Council’s WiFi in Public Libraries in England fund was set up following an independent report on libraries.

It is being delivered on behalf of the Department of Culture Media and Sport.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The nationwide funding will help 1,000 libraries either upgrade services or provide WiFi for the first time.

Culture minister Ed Vaizey said: “I am delighted that this fund will enable over 1,000 libraries to either provide WiFi for the first time or to upgrade their current service.

“It is a vital step to ensuring that all public libraries can provide WiFi access to their communities. As more services become available online, this will increasingly make libraries the place to go for people who don’t have the access or the confidence to use digital services.”