Shropshire Libraries to benefit from better Wi-Fi

Shropshire Libraries is one of 68 library services across the country that are set to benefit from Government funding to improve wi-fi facilities. £19,000 has been awarded to Shropshire from the Arts Council England Wi-Fi in Public Libraries fund, enabling wi-fi to be installed in libraries that currently have no wi-fi provision. The investment will also allow existing library wi-fi facilities to be upgraded.

Rawden Parslow, Shropshire Council’s library area manager, said:

“The is really good timing because our current wi-fi was mostly installed several years ago and we have been keen to upgrade and expand it for some time. We have seen the use of wi-fi in libraries increase significantly over the past few years, so it’s clearly a part of the service that people find really useful. It also ties in really nicely with our other online services such as ebooks and emagazines.”

Arts Council England have specified that new wi-fi systems should offer high levels of security but also be easy to access, with no complicated log in processes to deal with. The new equipment will offer wi-fi connections that are fast and reliable, allowing for a greater range of use within each library.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for business and culture, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Shropshire Libraries have been awarded this funding from Arts Council England to develop wi-fi facilities in library branches. Libraries are evolving and we need to make sure they remain suitable for future generations. The aim is for public libraries to be providing the most widespread opportunity for people to connect to digital services via wi-fi free of charge on their laptops, tablets and smartphones. Work on the wi-fi rollout is to begin shortly, with installations likely to take place early in 2016.”

For more information about this investment in wi-fi, email rawden.parslow@shropshire.gov.uk.