A NATIONAL boom in visitors to libraries has been reflected in Swindon.

According to figures released this week, the number of people going through the doors into the town's libraries was up 25 per cent last year to more than a million.

The People's Network is believed to have brought in thousands of users to access the internet for free.

Swindon Council's libraries and heritage manager David Allen said: "Many of these users are completely new to the world of computers and they value the support of library staff who provide free introductions and guidance."

At the moment the town's libraries are appealing to families with babies and young children to sample the range of books on offer.

Librarian Robin Griffiths explained that because babies learned from birth. "That babies cannot read is absolutely no reason why they should stay away from libraries.

"Many books for babies do not even have words and those that do are designed for parents and carers to read with the child."