Public libraries in Ballymahon, Roscommon, and Ballinasloe are to benefit from funding as part of a two-year development plan for the library sector, it was announced this week.
Ballymahon’s library is to receive a significant cash injection of €600,000, while the public library in Roscommon town is also to benefit from funding in support of library development.
Subject to public finances being available in 2011, a library project in Ballinasloe, Co Galway is also among those libraries listed for grant aid.
Total funding of €7.8 million for libraries across the country was announced by Minister for Housing and Local Services, Michael Finneran, earlier this week. The money will go towards the development and refurbishment of a range of public libraries throughout the country.
The new 2010-2011 programme will also support library development in Dublin, Louth, Donegal, Carlow, Offaly, and Mayo, as well as a replacement mobile and delivery van for Limerick county.
Speaking at the announcement, the Minister expressed the hope that the new programme would also “make a significant contribution to promoting economic recovery in the towns involved”, as the building and refurbishment of this vital social infrastructure will create significant local employment in construction, fit out, and ICT.
He added that he was “particularly pleased to see evidence of very significant increases in library usage across the country generally with people availing of initiatives like free e-learning to update their skills to enhance their chances in the jobs market”.
He also thanked the staff of every local library for their professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm, which, he noted, greatly enhanced “the quality of civic life in communities all across the country”.
