THE number of books borrowed from Bolton libraries has plunged 15 per cent in five years.

Last year, loans dipped below the two million mark as they fell by almost six per cent -- but council chiefs say embracing new technology is just the ticket to ensure libraries continue to thrive.

While many bookworms seem to have gone underground, more and more library users are turning to the Internet and CD-Roms.

A grant of almost £500,000 announced on Tuesday will boost the trend by giving Bolton's 14 branch libraries Internet access, currently only available at the Central Library.

Kathleen Ryan, Bolton Council's assistant director in charge of libraries, said the borrowing figures do not show the whole picture.

She said: "There has been a shift. Book loans are going down but we are getting more inquiries from people seeking information.

"The changing pattern is affecting community libraries just as much, although the reduction in borrowing has been slower.

"Reading isn't going to go away but there's a greater availability of cheap paperback books at newsagents, cornershops and supermarkets and that's obviously had an impact on people's leisure reading.

"When serious information is needed people are still coming to the library."

As book borrowing has declined, the number of inquiries has actually gone up 12 per cent.

Loans of talking books and CDs went up almost three per cent to 163,789. "There's a much greater choice available than there used to be and I think a lot of people have discovered them," said Ms Ryan.

"They are really very versatile. They're a great antidote to road rage and you can use them when you are getting on with something else."

In total 1, 370,906 visits were made to Bolton libraries last year and 1,960,424 books borrowed.