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Durham County Council Information Service
Finchale Priory

ICT and Computers in Libraries

We have over 200 public access computers in libraries across the county. Awards in previous years from the People's Network and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation enabled us to increase computer and IT provision in libraries. (Note: Currently we do not offer computer access on our Mobile Libraries). Always remember to use the internet safely.

We offer free access to:

  • The Internet (via Broadband) Please see our public access Internet guidance.
  • Email facilities.
  • A range of software applications including; Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Publisher and Digital Image Pro
  • Scanning facilities.
  • CD/DVD re-writer
  • Flash Card Reader to allow images from digital camera memory cards to be downloaded onto a PC

Special Needs Users

Supernova software is installed on one computer in every library which allows text enlargement and speech synthesis. Cicero Text Reader software is installed on one PC in every library which enables documents to be scanned and then translated into speech. A touch screen monitor is available in some of our libraries. Each library is able to offer access to a big key keyboard and a trackerball. All our PCs have Browsealound software installed. This program allows website content to be read aloud (where the site is speech enabled).

Staff will often be able to help with basic computer enquiries but cannot usually give one-to-one tuition.

Registered members of our libraries can logon to Library Online and book a session on a computer.

Broadband

Durham County Council, in partnership with the District Councils and the regional development agency One NorthEast, is driving forward a major £5.1 million project (DurhamNet) to provide a broadband network across the county, via high speed radio technology.

Stage one of the project aims to provide broadband access to business, education and community facilities. This work is well under way, with broadband provision to the County's public libraries already in place.

The County Council is now leading a regional initiative to ensure that all telephone exchanges in the North-East are upgraded to deliver broadband to the region. Funding from One NorthEast and the European Union will support the initiative.