The Government has raised the total investment in library facilities for the State to over €100 million after allocating extra funding to the service today.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche, announced an extra €7 million for library projects.
Speaking at Open Flexible and Innovative: The 21st Century Library Conference in Cork, he said: "I want to see new and necessary library projects moving ahead as quickly and efficiently as possible. To this end, I am delighted today to announce the funding of a further thirteen library projects."
These include a community library for Donegal town, a new branch library for Dunleer fitting out a new library in Mallow and a number of mobile library and delivery vans.
Of the extra funding announced today, €2 million is earmarked to provide broadband to branch libraries.
It will also provide for a range of other initiatives so that the public will have a comprehensive online local studies, genealogy, reference and general interest service through partnership between the library authorities and other bodies.
With library building projects underway to the tune of €45 million and the €52 million already committed to library projects in the pipeline.
The Minister concluded: "Through this dedicated Information and Communication Technology funding and the additional funding I have announced, I believe that we will consolidate the public libraries as a modern, forward-looking resource while enhancing the service for existing library users."