HAMPSHIRE library service has been downgraded to a one-star service from the two-star rating it had last year.

The county council failed to meet targets for library opening hours, visits per 1,000 population, number of computers and new book buying.

But Cllr Margaret Snaith, who is in charge of the county's 55 libraries, played down the worsening performance at cabinet last week.

She said: "We took the decision not to chase standards. It is a waste of time and damaging for staff who work here."

The council says the 10 public library service standards are outof- date and due to be dropped next year from the list of performance indicators used by the Audit Commission to assess local authorities.

A council spokeswoman said "They were widely seen in the library world as not properly reflecting the performance of modern public library services.

"For example, they don't capture anything about the outreach and community activities of libraries, use of the People's Network, web-based transactions, or the increasing use of online reference material."

She added: "Hampshire has been concentrating on things that will attract a wider range of people to make use of their library services.

"This has included the very successful introduction of discovery centres, major refurbishment of many library buildings, new mobile libraries, and spending an additional £350,000 this year on books and other library resources."

But the figures show acquisitions per 1,000 population dropped to 192 in 2007/8 from 196 in 2006/7 - well short of the target 216.

Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Lib Dem opposition spokesman for libraries, said: "The council shouts from the rooftops when they do well, but discredit the system when it does badly.

"The county library chiefs have been looking at the service through rose-tinted spectacles, but the truth is it is not as good as it should be and the ratings prove it.

"They should accept the facts and do something about it."

Nicola Horsey is currently acting head of the library and information service since the retirement in March of chief librarian Richard Ward.