Microsoft's European Libraries Online! project reached Limerick this week when the city library hooked up to the Internet for the first time. Limerick is the third Irish library to get involved.

The initiative offers free access to the World Wide Web, and educational and business software. Ballyfermot Public Library and Mayo County Library in Castlebar launched their sites in September and October. Since the initiative started in Ballyfermot, the response has been overwhelming, says librarian, Ms Diane Dixon.

"Since the library has gone online `Where's the Internet Miss?' are the words most often spoken in the library," she says.

Among the most popular sites are Freddy the Fish, the Spice Girls and Boyzone.