LOGGING on to your own devices in libraries across East Sussex is about to get a lot easier thanks to a £64,000 cash boost.

From spring next year free Wi-Fi will be available in every library in the county after East Sussex County Council successfully bid for a share of a £2.6million fund from the Arts Council England.

Receiving the £64,355 it applied for, the council council’s library service will be able to install Wi-Fi in 15 libraries.

Currently every library in East Sussex offers free computer and internet access, but only 10 offer Wi-Fi.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this money,” said Cllr Chris Dowling, lead member for community services. “It means visitors will be able to connect to the internet on their smartphones, tablets and laptops in any East Sussex library they visit.

“Today’s libraries are about so much more than books, they are a valued learning and meeting space for the local community and having free and reliable access to the internet will help the development of digital skills, as well open up the opportunities that being online has to offer.”

East Sussex County Council was one of 68 local authorities across the country to receive a share of the Wi-Fi in Public Libraries in England fund, set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

It is hoped the funding will result in 98 per cent of public libraries in the country providing free, good quality Wi-Fi by March 2016.

East Sussex County Council’s contractor, Insight Media, will carry out the work and it is hoped that Wi-Fi will be available in the 15 libraries by spring 2016.

Wi-Fi will be installed in the following 15 libraries by spring 2016;

Battle Library
Forest Row Library
Hastings Children’s Library
Ore Library
Mayfield Library
Pevensey Bay Library
Wadhurst Library
Heathfield Library
Ringmer Library
Willingdon Library
Hampden Park Library
Hollington Library
Polegate Library
Crowborough Library
Hastings Library