AMBITIOUS plans have been revealed for a multi-million pound revamp of libraries and information centres across North Yorkshire.

Over the next two years the county council aims to spend more than £3m on the service in order to incorporate the latest technology.

It is hoped that their transformation, along with the addition of longer opening hours and a more family-friendly atmosphere, will increase he number of people using them.

With the help of an extra £1.1m in National Lottery funding, a total of 350 new computers will be installed at libraries of all sizes across the county, all offering free access to the internet.

The county council investment will also see the creation of informal areas for browsing and listening to music and new areas for the under-16s where the youngsters will be able to access information in a 'safe and appealing environment.'

The authority's executive member with responsibilities for libraries, Coun John Dennis, said: "There will be a complete redesign, with state-of-the-art information and communications technology and a new children's library."

The authority's director of business and community services, Gordon Gresty, added: "We are very keen to develop close working partnerships with businesses and local organisations that can bring additional services to our communities."