Dinosaur Isle and the Isle of Wight Library Service are set to receive a share of £7.4million through the Government’s Cultural Investment Fund. The funding will support important upgrades to museums and public libraries such as vital repairs, renovations and the development of digital infrastructure which will ensure they can continue to be assets to their communities and improve the visitor experience. Dinosaur Isle, located on Sandown’s Culver Parade, has been awarded almost £500,000 for structural repairs to its roof and improvements to its building and lighting. The museum holds an internationally significant collection of UK dinosaurs, forming the UK’s second-largest collection after the Natural History Museum. Museum curator and general manager, Dr Martin Munt, said:
“The staff at the museum are excited that we have received this vital funding which will help ensure the long-term care of our Island’s fabulous fossil heritage.”
Elsewhere on the Island, The Isle of Wight Library Service has been given £150,000 to improve accessibility at Ryde and Cowes libraries. At Cowes Library, the funds will be used to improve access at the library entrance, with a wider door opening from the ramp, and a new internal door making it easier for people with prams, or in wheelchairs or mobility scooters to enter the building. The office area at the back of the library is going to be redesigned to include an accessible toilet and kitchen area, which will mean the library can be used by groups outside opening hours, as well as enjoyed by library customers. At Ryde Library, new accessible toilets will be installed, approached via a widened corridor. The children’s library will be brightened up with a new carpet, and the Friends of Ryde Library are paying for new shelving. 
The works at Cowes and Ryde libraries are planned to take place in September 2024, with minimum disruption to library customers. Between them, the 2 libraries attracted around 180,000 visitors last year, and hosted a wide number of activities run by libraries such as Rhymetimes, storytimes and book group meetings, and many activities run by partner organisations such as Playlist for Life dementia sessions, AgeUK digital skills workshops, Sewing Bees and Philo Cafes. Rob Jones, library service manager, said:
“We are absolutely delighted that our Libraries Improvement Fund bid has been successful. “This money will really make a difference at Cowes and Ryde libraries, allowing all our residents to come into the libraries easily, and have toilet and kitchen facilities they can all use while attending events and activities.”
“A Share of ”
By the time the Island receives it’s allocation, and then that is squandered by the council’s bureaucracy, that will be 9/10th of didely squat.
Yes exactly, the public should get a letter showing where every penny has gone.. similar to what happened to the 110mil council got to sort, Coppins bridge, and the 130m to sort out st marys roundabout, and the 130 m to tidy up East Cowes front…let alone the 120m for floating bridge…
I’m suprised libraries get ~250 visitors per day, I expected them to be dead.
I think if it were not for care in the community, and very poor people trying to keep warm after spending their more than adequate benefits unwisely on booze, drugs, false nails and lashes, phones etc, then there would be a tenth of that number.
Once the older generation die out, few, only ‘to prove a point’ by taking young children there types will require these costly archaic institutions.
Better than flotsam flats one supposes.
Trolling again after a quick name change?