On February 8 2008, Arts Minister Edwin Poots MLA, announced a three year capital programme worth £31.6million to help modernise and improve public library facilities.
The Minister said: “The libraries capital budget for the next three years has more than doubled from £13.37million to £31.6million.
This will allow a major programme of work to improve the library estate with high quality, fit-for-purpose libraries. The overall spend on libraries will enable the Library Service to improve opening hours, continue to provide free internet access, spend more on books and deliver more services on-line.”
The Minister continued: “I am also allocating funding of £750,000 to increase book stocks in libraries before the end of the current financial year. This will help to refresh existing bookstock and make sure that readers have access to quality books in plentiful supply.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to announce an additional £178,000 for the Bookstart Treasure Chest Programme in Northern Ireland.
“This extra funding will allow Bookstart to give the gift of free books to pre-school children who become library members. Not only does this encourage our children to read and enjoy books but it also promotes quality time and interaction between parents and children. It is an investment in our children and our society as a whole.”
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