LIBRARIES across the county are going computer crazy as more than £1 million in grants is handed out.

North Yorkshire County Council has been awarded £1,091,968 in the latest round of a national initiative for improving computer facilities in public libraries.

The money, from the New Opportunities Fund, will be used to increase the number of public access computers in libraries sixfold in the county.

For the first time there will also be free access to word-processing and other office software together with printing and scanning facilities.

There will also be a range of software, and equipment to ensure that people with disabilities can use the new services.

Mike Gibson, acting head of libraries and arts, said: "This is a very exciting development for North Yorkshire's library service. It improves existing computer-based services to our regular customers, and should also attract people who might not have used us before.

"No matter how big or small, our local libraries are becoming one of the main ways of easily accessing a much larger world of information, education and communication, as well as places where people can use of develop their computer skills, regardless of your individual circumstances."

Libraries to benefit include:

Easingwold, Thirsk, Barlby and Pickering, six computers each

Selby, 15 computers

Tadcaster, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Norton, eight each

Malton, ten computers.

Updated: 11:55 Wednesday, December 05, 2001