Gazette area’s libraries to enter the ‘wireless age’

FREE wireless internet access will soon be installed in libraries across the Gazette patch, West Sussex County Council announced last week.

Those using libraries across the county will be able to access the free internet connection on their own laptops, tablets and smartphones after plans to install wi-fi were given the go ahead.

The state-of-the-art system is being fitted in every branch during the next few months, including those in Arundel, Littlehampton, Rustington, East Preston and Angmering.

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Lesley Sim, information service manager for the county’s libraries, said: “The number of laptops and smart phones has risen significantly during the last five years so it is vitally important we keep up to date with new technology

“Anyone living in West Sussex will be able to visit a library and log on using their own device. The new service will supplement rather than replace the existing paid-for internet access, which will still be available in all 36 West Sussex libraries.”

The decision to instal wi-fi is part of a long-term plan to modernise the service, which saw new self-service book machines installed last year.

Work to install the internet access will begin later this month and is expected to be completed by July, with county council officials adding no libraries will be closed while the equipment is installed.