FIVE local libraries are set to be replaced by three hi-tech 'centres of excellence' in a £3m shake up by Blackpool Borough Council.

The resort's first new library in 90 years will open at Palatine as soon as next year, with Bispham library set to double in size by 2005.

Central Library is expected to become a local heritage centre, replaced by a huge new facility, three times the size, as part of the local master plan.

Layton library is also to be improved, Grange Park will get a new library as part of its £600,000 City Learning Centre, while Mereside library will be moved and upgraded. However, Claremont, Highfield, Hawes Side, South Shore and Marton libraries would all close. The only libraries which will not be affected are Anchorsholme and Revoe.

Cllr David Owen, portfolio holder for culture and leisure said: "We know this is what people want. Blackpool residents want libraries to be open longer hours so they can use them after work or at weekends.

"They would also like to see libraries in modern buildings co-sited with other public facilities, like sports centres, so they can 'kill two birds with one stone' by just making one journey.

"We as a council firmly believe that libraries should be places which attract people of all ages and offer a wide cross section of recreation and learning opportunities. That's what this multi- million pound investment would create.

"Over the last 12 months Blackpool has begun to buck the national trend by increasing the numbers of people borrowing books and visiting libraries. We have established that there is a demand and now we need to be able to do more to meet that demand -that means bigger buildings and better facilities."

The new £1.2 million Palatine library, on the same site as the pool and sports hall, will have 35 computers and a stock of books as big as the one currently found at Central Library.

The new-look Bispham Library will be of similar size and open for 60 hours a week. The historic central library will become a local heritage centre and an extension to the adjoining art gallery.

The new library, built as part of the masterplan, will have between 4,000 and 5,000sq ft of space (as opposed to 1,500sq ft at the current library).

The council claims no-one will have more more than an extra half a mile to travel to new facilities, and it has also pledged to improve its housebound reader service.

"It is a really exciting time and a huge step forward," added Cllr Owen: "Our new libraries will be a credit to the town and we will talk to residents to see how they would like to use the existing buildings when the libraries move into their super new locations."