ON a Thursday morning at Arnold Library it's far from quiet.

A parent and baby group are being led in a sing-song and two pensioners chat over a cup of coffee.

The move away from shushing librarians towards a more friendly and welcoming feel is part of Notts County Council's approach to make libraries more like community bases.

Arnold Library had £75,000 worth of refurbishment and health and safety improvements done in the spring, which has started enticing more people in.

Funding for libraries is up for discussion as part of the council's Big Budget Conversation – a consultation asking Notts taxpayers how they want the council to save £150m over the next three years.

Whether its 60 libraries could provide more services than they currently do and become a place for people to get in touch with the council could also be considered.

Mums Jo Nixon, 33, Kay Pavier, 32, and Jennifer Bennett, 39, all from Arnold, bring their baby daughters to the weekly rhyme sessions.

Jo said: "It's really good. It's a nice place to come and meet people, and it's free."

Upstairs, people are using a row of computers to access the internet free of charge.

Job seeker Terry Bramford, 49, also from Arnold, said being able to get online was invaluable in his search for work.

He said: "I come every day. It's normally not a bad system and you don't really have to wait."

Self-service machines were included as part of the revamp, meaning people can take books out and return them without staff having to man a desk.

June Foster, 75, of Bentwell Avenue, said she had been visiting the library for more than 20 years.

She said: "I think it's lovely. I'm getting used to the machines, at first it was confusing because I'm not terribly well up on computers."

Mrs Foster said she also liked the way she could access community information.

Notice boards explain about local events and clubs, a meeting room acts like a community centre where meetings can be held, and the library is even set to host comedy and entertainment night.

One-to-one internet sessions are also held to show people the ropes.

Liz Ashley, library manager and Marie Davis, programme and events officer, are enthusiastic about the role libraries can play.

Liz said: "Now the counters have gone we have more interaction and better customer service."

Marie added: "It's brought staff on to the library floor. The emphasis has changed, and so much for the better."

The council spends £12.5m on libraries, with staffing equivalent to around 300 full-time posts, and is keen to hear people's views on the service and how it could be used in new ways.

To join in with the Big Budget Conversation visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/conversation