Libraries net IT funding for 'excluded' groups

Forty UK libraries are to receive grants totalling £750,000 to spend on IT for "excluded" members of society.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is awarding each library between £10,000 and £20,000 for wireless hotspots, satellite linkups on mobile libraries and interactive whiteboards.

These grants follow a national project by the People's Network, which helped to put Internet access into public libraries in the UK.

The MLA assessed 86 applications before awarding the grants.

Derby, Sunderland and Wakefield libraries are among those to receive funding.