Government is boasting of trebling use of library facilities over the past five years, with Community Affairs Minister hoping to further push their use.

"The Bermuda National Library wants to encourage all Bermudians to join and regularly use the library," Mr. Butler told the House of Assembly on Friday.

"The 1998 PLP Party platform had as one its goals to extend the opening hours of the library. The additional hours were implemented and since that time use of the Adult and Youth libraries has increased from an average of 5,000 visits per month in September 1998 to nearly 17,000 per month in September 2003.

"It is the hope of many, that we may one day see a purpose-built library with Adult and Youth house in one facility ? it is also hoped that one day in the not too distant future we can also see branch libraries once again located in the eastern and western ends of the Island."

Mr. Butler was keen to remind the public of the services provided by the Bermuda National Library, which include: the lending of books, large print books, magazines, videos, CDs, DVDs as well as Internet access.