BOOKWORMS turned out in force to check out the £1m revamped Shirley library.

The state-of-the-art facility was opened by Southampton's leisure boss Councillor Peter Wakeford and canine cartoon sleuth Scooby Doo, currently appearing in his own show at The Mayflower theatre.

Balloons were handed out as scores of visitors lined up to borrow books, CDs and DVDs, as well as to use the public Internet and e-mail facilities.

Billed as more "trendy bookstore" than stuffy institution, the library, in Shirley precinct, has a comfy seating area, magazines and newspapers scattered around and bookstore-style displays.

It has meeting rooms that can be hired out and a 42-inch plasma TV screen.

The children's library area is dominated by a large ocean liner-shaped seat, with inbuilt bookshelves - but it is still waiting to be named by a creative Southampton youngster. The young reader coming up with the best name for the ship will receive a £25 book voucher and a return ferry ticket to the Isle of Wight for one adult and one child.

They will also be invited to a naming ceremony later this year.

Entry forms can be picked up from the library. The competition is open to anyone under 15, with a closing date of April 18.

Cllr Wakeford said of the new library: "This is a service Southampton can be proud of. It is very much in line with the new Discovery Centres being launched in Hampshire, showing that libraries can move with the times and respond to the needs of a variety of audiences."

Shirley library is open from 9.30am until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10am until 7pm on Wednesdays and from 9.30am until 4pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Thursdays and Sundays.