Bookworms have made Oxford’s Central Library the fourth busiest in the UK, according to an annual survey.

There were 671,418 items borrowed from the library in the Westgate Centre between April 2007 and last March, with the total including 580,000 books and 91,000 DVDs, CDs and audio books.

Sue Harper, assistant customer service manager, said she believed the number of book loans would increase during the recession.

She said: “I think the credit crunch will mean the withdrawal of books will go up again, particularly when you consider it can cost £15 for a hardback and £8 for a paperback.

“A couple of years ago, we increased the number of books borrowers could withdraw to 20, and I think that has made a big difference.

“If people are studying it means they can take out textbooks and some books to read for pleasure at the same time.

“The library has recently undergone a series of improvements, including changes to seating, lighting, and layout of book displays.”

In other parts of the country, some local authorities have cut library funding to try to balance their books, leading to closure fears, but Mrs Harper said investment in Oxfordshire’s 42 libraries was being maintained.

She added: “There’s a strong commitment to the library service from the county council and we hope that will continue.”

Mrs Harper said a plan to re-house the library temporarily at Macclesfield House, in New Road, while the Westgate Shopping Centre is rebuilt, was now on hold until the shopping development’s own fate was settled.

Scores of Central Library users fill in comment cards to give staff feedback about the service provided.

County Librarian Caroline Taylor added: “It’s wonderful so many people are using the fantastic facilities at the library and it is one of the busiest for issues in the whole country.

“I’m delighted at the very positive words that readers have written on comment cards — it’s evidence of the excellent job that all our county library staff do.”

Positive feedback on library comment cards included: ‘A brilliant library — invariably thoughtful and imaginative staff’ ‘A wonderful resource’ ‘I have been using the service for over 30 years and have invariably been met with great kindness and helpfulness’.

According to information compiled by the Chartered Institute of Public finance and accountancy, the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library issued the most books in 2007-8 (1,139,090), making it the nation’s favourite library for the second year in the row.

Chelmsford Library in Essex was second (742,048), with Milton Keynes Library third (711,672).