Waterford Libraries welcome investment of €100,000 towards upgrade works
Waterford Libraries are delighted to receive funding of €100,000 for upgrade works announced today. City and County Librarian, Jane Cantwell said: “This very welcome funding will allow us to continue to make our library branches across the City and County more comfortable and welcoming spaces for our communities and will ensure that when we can welcome our customers back for all the events, classes, exhibitions and new digital services that we have been missing during Covid, our libraries will be bright, spacious and safe for everyone”.
This funding will supplement the already substantial investment by Waterford City and County Council in upgrading our branch library network. Director of Services for Culture, Kieran Kehoe, said “The Minister’s announcement is most welcome as it demonstrates the support by Government for our library service and how libraries are serving communities at local level. This funding will be allocated in particular to upgrade works in Central Library, Dungarvan and Cappoquin branches and we would expect works to commence over the coming weeks”.
The work of Waterford Libraries was all the more important for the people of Waterford during the early stages of COVID 19 restrictions and although the doors were closed the services were certainly not. Traffic to the Waterford Libraries website in March 2020 grew by almost 70% on March 2019 and use of online resources such as Press Reader and Borrow Box saw usage grow exponentially.
Waterford Libraries continue to work collaboratively to bring services that are relevant and accessible to all and this funding will allow this to continue.
