THE number of visitors to Bolton libraries is dropping -- but no one can doubt that staff who work there are a mine of information.

And despite the fall in attendances, visitors to the libraries are still making the most of the inquiries service, posing intriguing requests for help.

Bolton folk appear to still prefer a friendly face and would rather consult a librarian for help than surf the net.

There were fewer than 1,500 visitors to libraries around the town last year, but over the past decade the number of people making inquiries jumped by 40 per cent at the Central Library and rose by 16 per cent at community libraries.

Bolton Council's Education and Culture department says that the drop in visitors has coincided with a reduction in library opening hours.

Visitors' biggest complaints about the service are the choice of books and opening times, but staff do their best to provide a variety of books with 18,000 titles circulating through the libraries at the moment.

The number of people visiting the archive and local studies sections continues to rise and it is hoped that eventually more space will be created for these departments.

Author of the report, assistant director of Education and Culture, Kathleen Ryan, said: "Over the last ten years various financial pressures have led to a reduction in the availability of services in Bolton.

"At the same time society has changed and people's needs and wants have altered."