A council report has shown Croydon's under-funded libraries are falling short of Government targets.

Croydon Council's library strategy for 2005-09, approved at Monday's cabinet meeting, show library opening hours and the amount of books bought fall below national goals known as the Public Library Service Standards (PLSS).

The libraries' combined purchasing fund, used to buy the borough's stock, has also been reduced over the last four years. The total has fallen from £1,023,505 in 2001/02 to £365,000 for this financial year.

From May last year the council decided to close Croydon's central library on Sundays to save £100,000 a year. And between January and April 2004 the council admitted it had asked for a freeze on libraries buying new books in order to save money.

Councillor Stuart Collins, cabinet member for culture and sport, has pledged an additional £100,000 per year for three years to bring the fund up to £700,000 by 2007/8.

Coun Collins said surveys of customers showed high levels of satisfaction with the borough's libraries and he stated that the council had opened the new Selsdon library in December 2003.

But Councillor Jan Buttingers, Conservative spokesman for culture and sport, was critical of the report.

She said: "The cabinet report indicates fewer residents are using the borough's libraries due to the poor quality of books.

"Croydon used to be top of the league in London for its library service and now we find we are at the bottom.

"Under the last Conservative administration upwards of £1million a year was spent on new books now the council is spending just £365,000."