Improvements to the county's library service have been backed

Charity Libri claimed in April that libraries could be out of use by 2020 if a decline in user numbers continued.

The report's author, Tim Coates, based some of his findings on how Hampshire County Council ran its service.

Now a cross-party committee has said it believes the ongoing revamp will answer the criticisms made.

Discovery centres

Councillor Mike Geddes, chairman of the recreation and heritage policy review committee, said: "Libraries need to change to attract new people to use them and I strongly believe that the action being taken in Hampshire is the right approach - a view which has been echoed by members of the committee.

"The county council certainly has no intention of taking the emphasis away from books and reading, contrary to an accusation made by Tim Coates, author of a recent report on libraries.

"In fact, quite the reverse is true."

Among the improvements being undertaken in Hampshire is the transformation of Gosport library into a "Discovery Centre", a youth-friendly centre boasting a range of services, including greater internet access.

Numbers 'halved'

A programme of general library refurbishments is also under way, with Yateley and Farnborough libraries currently being revamped and Chandler's Ford and Grayshott libraries to follow later this summer.

Eleven libraries have had their opening hours extended, with another eight to follow before March 2005.

The council's libraries boss, councillor John Waddington, welcomed the support of the watchdog committee.