A COMPUTER equipment specialist is helping libraries to foil would-be thieves.

Grorud Engineering, based in Castleside Industrial Estate, Consett, has fitted libraries in Brandon and Willington with secure PC stands to help minimise monitor theft.

It was designed with ergonomics in mind and allows users to adjust the height and angle of the PC monitor to their own individual needs - reducing eye and back strain.

The secure stands have proved so effective that Durham County Council is considering installing them in all its libraries.

Andy Raine, stock and systems manager for the council's cultural services department, said: "We are increasingly using flat screen technology in our libraries, at both staff and customer terminals, but have had problems in the past with break-ins to library buildings. The screens could simply be snapped off the plastic stands that we had.

"Grorud designed a metal based-system which prevents this happening, but which also makes it easy for staff to both turn screens around to show customers and to adjust to their own particular working requirements."

"The flat screens also create a lot of extra desk space, which is especially important for our staff."

The desk-mounted system was the first in a range of nine aimed at the business market.

The success of these ergonomic solutions has secured the future of the plant's 260-strong workforce.

Company chief executive Scott Middleton said: "Over the past three years, it has taken off dramatically. Ergonomic solutions is now more than ten per cent of our business and is growing."

Ian Matthews, sales and marketing director at Grorud, said: "The flexibility of this system means that the libraries not only get screens which can be adjusted to any user's needs, but they can also rest assured that it will remain firmly in place."