Belfast’s Linen Hall Library has received £99,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Library director, Julie Andrews, described it as “lifeline” for the institution, which has remained closed to the public during the coronavirus lockdown. Library staff have been working remotely to ensure virtual access, and they have moved their arts and cultural programming online. The library is in the process of preparing for a phased reopening. The £99,000 from the British lottery is part of a package of support of up to £600m repurposed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for organisations across the United Kingdom affected by the coronavirus outbreak.