FRIENDLY Bolton librarians have been given the thumbs up by local bookworms.

Almost all the people who took part in a customer survey praised staff for their helpfulness and manners.

But many said they were unhappy with opening hours and the number of new books on the shelves. Recently published results show that 93 per cent of people who went in with an open mind found something they wanted to take home and read.

But that is fewer satisfied customers than two years ago when 96pc found a book worth borrowing.

Those who came in with specific requests in terms of subject, title or author found it harder to find exactly what they wanted and there were a high number of complaints about the lack of new books on the shelves.

The fifth annual survey of library services carried out at Astley Bridge, Farnworth, High Street, Horwich, Little Lever and Tonge Moor libraries last October also showed a high level of dissatisfaction with opening hours.

Unhappy

People in Little Lever were the most unhappy with 60pc rating the opening hours poor or very poor, followed by 55pc at High Street, 50pc at Astley Bridge and 32pc at Tonge Moor.

Over three quarters at Farnworth and Horwich libraries, which are open for much longer, rated hours good or very good.

Over 80pc of those who arrived looking for specific information found what they wanted, usually with the help of a librarian, and 90pc of people rated children's services very highly.

The survey also revealed exactly who is using the library service and customer opinions about other facilities and activities.

Library chiefs say they will address some of the minor complaints such as the layout at Astley Bridge library and are hopeful that a computerised stock circulation system will help those who have difficulties finding exactly what they want or new titles to read.

They say they cannot afford to increase opening hours but a slow rolling programme is looking at re-arranging them and there has been much support for this at Bromley Cross, the first library to benefit.

Education and Arts Chairman Cllr Don Eastwood praised the personal touch by Bolton librarians and said: "I have noticed that when you go in, nothing is too much trouble for the staff.

"People have told me that if you ask them for something, there seems to be no problem looking it up and taking you to where it is."

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