ALMOST half a million pounds has been invested to move North Yorkshire's library service into a new technological era.

Gone of the days of searching endless rows of dusty books, instead accessing information can be done at the touch of a button. Furthermore, the interactive service can be brought to your doorstep.

North Yorkshire County Council has launched two mobile libraries at a cost of £160,000.

They will be added to their updated fleet of ten libraries that travel the length and breadth of the county for more than 300 hours a week.

The mobiles are equipped with computer workstations, DVDs and movies, pushing the conventional books to the back of the shelf.

The council's director of business and community services, Gordon Gresty, said: "There is a great demand for this service from both the young and old. All kinds of people want to access information and are keen on music, so receiving that service shouldn't be denied.

"These more upbeat and spectacular mobile libraries ensure that everybody in the rural areas can benefit from the service."

The City of York Council has also unveiled plans to update its library service, promising that by Christmas every one of the city's 14 libraries will have free computer and Internet access.

Newly refurbished information suites and a total of 85 computers will be paid for by £325,000 of lottery funding.

Janet Thompson, the council's libraries manager, said: "Libraries provide information and increasingly that information is online. It is a natural extension of the library to provide this technological service.

"Members of staff are being trained to know all the basics about the Internet, email and computer packages to help our library users - information technology is becoming part of our core service."