A VISION of how Southampton's library service will develop in the 21st century will be put under the spotlight today.
Over the next decade, the city's central and district libraries could undergo a radical revamp, with extended opening hours and extensive stocks of DVDs, CDs and videos.
By 2015 the city centre's library would be refurbished as an "iconic" building with four district libraries housed in vacant supermarkets if the plans are given the go-ahead.
They would contain creches, cafes lockers, comfort zones and cyber-centres - as well as media hire shops and community spaces.
The Central Library could be open as many as 24 hours a day with all other libraries open at least 100 hours a week by the end of the next decade.
Each library could offer a "virtual world" which could link library users with cities such as Bangkok and Tokyo.
City library bosses will present their draft vision to members of the council's leisure, culture and tourism scrutiny panel.
In the next five years, all district libraries will be open for 54 hours a week, with others open for a minimum of 42 hours a week, according to the report.
The service should be completely revamped by 2015, with better access for all and a small fleet of delivery vans to take books and other library materials to people's homes.
Over the next five years, every library should see the following developments:
Become a lifelong learning centre offering a wide range of courses, advice and guidance to students and providing both courses and tasters
Access for users to key council services online, including complaints
Use of libraries by other council services as centres where they can inform local people about city initiatives
Mobile library visits or home deliveries to every housebound person who wishes to receive a library service
A move away from the administration of routines towards the roles of "facilitator and educator" for every member of staff, enabling people to gain maximum value from library resources.
By 2015, libraries will offer virtual books from the library website, and provide videos, DVDs, software and cassettes, as well as tuition for students on demand.
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