LIBRARY members in Teesdale now have a world of information at their fingertips with the introduction of free access to the Internet.

All Durham County Council libraries provide free Internet access to all members, who can now book sessions of up to two hours before they visit their local library.

The main Teesdale branch library in Barnard Castle is home to one of a network of 12 computerised contact points throughout County Durham that enable people to access a wide range of help, advice and information which is available from Durham County Council.

People visiting the contact points, which are in all the county's libraries, can put forward comments, queries and requests for help and advice which are then immediately sent via a computer link to the relevant department in County Hall, in Durham.

The sender will then receive a response, depending on the complexity of the query, immediately, by post, telephone or a personal visit within five working days.

Deputy leader of Durham County Council, Bob Pendlebury, said the contact points were aimed at improving the authority's standards of customer service.

He said: "Their performance will be monitored to ensure that the response target is met and we are confident this initiative will enable us to respond more quickly and effectively to local needs."