Residents of Redcar and Cleveland are to have access to the information superhighway through libraries, thanks to new funding.

The funding forms part of a national movement to provide computer access for the public through library services.

There were conerns that the costs could not be met within existing resources, but money has been provided by the New Opportunities Funding.

Library staff are to be trained in the use of information technology (ICT) at a cost of £47,170 over three years, in a scheme which started in April and should be completed by March 2003.

In May, the fund announced that £100m would be allocated to libraries throughout the country for the development of ICT learning centres.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has been awarded more than £370,000 for its library computer and networking requirements, but has to contribute ten per cent of the total, £37,003.

The next stage will involve the preparation of an ICT plan, which will detail how the money is to be spent.

If the plan is approved, the money will become available from November or December this year, and the council hopes that all libraries will be connected to the Internet by 2002.