Library customers will soon be able to log on to improved internet access. The City of Wolverhampton Council has been given £90,500 by the Arts Council to improve WiFi in the city's libraries. Work taking place over the next few months will see existing WiFi hotspots extended and upgraded in 11 libraries and WiFi installed for the first time in another five.
Councillor Elias Mattu, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "Although many of our libraries already have WiFi, current provision is insufficient to meet demand, meaning customers are having problems logging on.
"This funding will see WiFi installed for the first time at East Park, Finchfield, Penn, Spring Vale and Whitmore Reans libraries, and upgraded at all our other libraries across the city."
He added: "I’m really pleased with the quality of the bid which helped us secure this large investment through the Arts Council. This important work is crucial to our vision to create a new modern library and information service that fully embraces e-technology such as ebooks and online resources.”
Work to upgrade the library WiFi network is expected to be complete by the end of March 2016.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “I’m so pleased that this important fund is enabling libraries across England to offer more vital services to their users and encourage more people to use and enjoy their local libraries.”
