Minister for Rural and Community
The money will be used for the modernisation of the library service, enhancing services for users and paving the way for the launch of a new public library strategy early in 2018.
Speaking in Dublin’s Pearse Street Library to an audience of first-year students from Sandford Park school, Mr Ring said the investment would enable the purchase of self-service technology for more than 200 libraries, along with book purchases. There would also be investment in hot desk facilities for businesspeople and job-seekers. “It is an exciting time for the public library service and for library staff,” he said.
Comprising €3.75 million from the Department of Rural and Community Development and €1.25 million from local authorities, the funding is in addition to €2.75 million of capital already provided for public libraries this year under the Libraries Capital Investment Programme. “The money we’re announcing today is nearly three times the amount that’s been allocated in the last three years,” Mr Ring said.
