Exciting new chapter for libraries as they upgrade to gigabit-capable broadband

Fourteen Dorset libraries have begun an exciting new chapter after benefiting from some of the country’s fastest internet speeds.

Thanks to £200,000 of government funding, these libraries – from Ferndown in the east to Bridport in the west, and from Swanage in the south to Blandford in the north – now have the fastest possible broadband connection.

The libraries all have full fibre installed right into the premises, giving staff and users speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second, or one gigabit.

And that’s not the only good digital news for the residents who use the council’s libraries service.

At 18 Dorset libraries volunteer digital champions are running free advice sessions to help people with any technological issue.

And across the libraries, staff are undergoing digital training so they can help any member of the public who needs help accessing more online services.

Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Corporate Development and Transformation, Cllr Jill Haynes, said:

“This is fantastic news for those libraries and especially for the residents who use them.

“Libraries offer a wide range of services, so much more than just borrowing items. As well as a range of activities and events – they offer an online resource of materials such as e books and magazines and they provide free computers and WiFi for the public to use.

“As we move more to a digital world, our library staff and volunteer digital champions are also playing a vital role in helping people get the confidence and skills to do more things online.”

Giving libraries gigabit capable broadband will improve the user experience at the libraries free-to-use desktop computers, where people can work or complete online services (such as GP appointments, job applications and benefit forms).

The improved WiFi is also free for residents to use on their own devices. Residents can experience these faster speeds, enabling them to work or study flexibly across Dorset.

It is hoped fibre infrastructure in these areas will make them more commercially viable for further fibre roll-out to the surrounding households and businesses.

And for the areas that are eligible for funding under the UK Gigabit Voucher scheme, the existing fibre should make it more affordable to install fibre to nearby premises.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

“It is fantastic to see our investment bringing Dorset’s libraries into the gigabit age. The funding will help speed up the roll-out of lightning-fast broadband connections to homes and businesses in the area.

“This is just one part of our £5 billion Project Gigabit national mission to level up communities across the country with internet speeds which are fit for the future.”

The 14 libraries that now have gigabit-capable broadband are: Blandford, Crossways, West Moors, Ferndown, Upton, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Weymouth, Colehill, Bridport, Littlemoor, Chickerell, Wyke Regis and Wimborne.

To find out which libraries run regular digital champion advice sessions go to Get online with our Digital Champions – Dorset Council

To book a library digital champion session, or to get digital advice via the phone, call the Digital Dorset Hotline on 01305 221048 (Monday to Friday, 10am-noon).