Scottish higher education institutions are to spend more than Pounds 33 million to improve their libraries.

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council is providing more than Pounds 16 million to 15 universities and colleges over the next three years, which will be matched by contributions from the institutions themselves.

The funding is SHEFC's response to a report from the Scottish Advisory Group on Libraries and Related Facilities. The group was set up to look at the findings of the Follett review of library facilities in the Scottish context.

Michael Anderson, former acting principal of Edinburgh University, who chaired the group, said: "Substantial growth in student numbers, in response to the Government's objective of expanding higher education, has put great strain on university and college library facilities. Investment in libraries has not kept pace with these developments. SHEFC's financial support is a very welcome injection of capital which will directly benefit the quality of student experience."

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The largest award, Pounds 3.8 million, almost a quarter of the total, goes to the University of Abertay Dundee.

The university plans to more than double the amount of library space for each student. It will create nearly 700 new study places, many of them connected to worldwide networks.

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Membership of the university library is open to the public, and Bernard King, the university principal, said: "The new library will give us further opportunity to strengthen our links with the local community, business and industry."