MORE than £1 million could be spent on replacing the computer system in Lancashire's public libraries.

Lancashire County Council is considering scrapping the existing system, which was last upgraded in 1990, and replacing it with the latest technology.

Library bosses say the move is vital to the future efficiency of the public library service.

And they are investigating whether a private sector partnership could help pay for it.

The existing system offers basic services dealing with the circulation of books, cataloguing, new acquisitions and local information.

But the library service has developed a range of additional services which are only available at some libraries, ranging from Internet access to local history databases. A report to the council's library, museums and arts committee says the existing system must be expanded if all libraries are to be able to take advantage of these extra services.

It adds that the support and maintenance contract with the company which supplied the current system expires in October and that the age of the equipment means it is breaking down more often. Replacement parts are becoming more difficult to obtain.

The cost of replacing the system in every council library would be £1.4 million plus maintenance.

The report says: "The replacement of the computer system and network and enhancement of IT facilities is crucial not just to the efficiency of the current public library service but also to maintaining its relevance in the future."

Councillors will be asked to agree in principle to the replacement of the system when they meet on Thursday.

A full financial report will be presented later.

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