LIBRARY chiefs are turning over a new leaf and taking £60,000 from their book fund to keep pace with the hi-tech revolution.

Computer experts say councillors have to nearly double their investment in new technology if they do not want Bolton libraries to fall behind.

But library chiefs claim traditional users will not suffer too much because the use of new technology means staff can offer them a better service.

Computers now allow staff to circulate thousands of books every month to give Bolton bookworms a wider choice of reading materials in their local library.

And people who cannot afford their own computers will be able to gain access to modern technology through their local libraries and benefit from the planned growth in the CD Rom network.

This year £22,000 was moved from books, fixtures and fittings into new technology, but library chiefs say the £74,493 information technology budget is still not enough to cover expected growth and development next year.

Now councillors will transfer £60,000 from next year's fund for books and audio visual equipment, currently standing at £526,000, into computers.

They agreed to the switch after hearing that Bolton spends more per head than other metropolitan towns on books --£2.02 compared to an average of £1.90.

Library chief Kath Ryan told councillors: "Whilst such re-direction has to be seen as an action of last resort, and one which has always been avoided in the past, there seems little alternative in the present situation."

Installing the latest terminals for the expanding computerised library system, meeting the growth of public demand for the CD Rom network, and replacing and amending computers due to crash in the Year 2000 have all put additional strains on the IT budget, said the libraries report.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.