Tories have put forward plans to save a historic library whose future is under threat.

Brighton and Hove city councillors were recommended in a report last month to move Hove library from Church Road to the banqueting room at the town hall.

Officials said it would be hard to adapt the library to meet modern standards, including those for the disabled.

But the report was withdrawn for further consideration just before a meeting of the policy committee following a campaign to save the 97-year-old listed library.

Tories say they will continue to oppose any move and believe a full appraisal of the building has not been carried out.

They say this should now be done, involving engineers, architects, library users and staff.

It would look at all possible options for a lift, including putting one in the central stairwell or at the back of the building.

It might be possible to use lifts that take up less space than conventional models and to use platform lifts which are more flexible at accessing half-floors or mezzanines.

Even wheelchair stairlifts could give access to small areas of the library.

Other civic buildings such as the Connaught Centre and the town hall could house part of the IT suite which currently takes up valuable space on the ground floor. Some computers could be left for research only.

Tory leader Brian Oxley said: "Much more use could be made of electronic browsing which would reduce the need to store as much library stock on site.

"The entire library catalogue is stored electronically and is available to browse online. This is a more efficient method of choosing books and many people are happy doing this."

Tories say a new lift and imaginative restructuring of existing stock and services would fulfil the authority's legal duty under the Disability Discrimination Act which comes in next year.

Coun Oxley said: "The people of Hove overwhelmingly want their library to stay where it is. Our efforts should be directed towards achieving that goal using the opportunities and technologies available to us within the requirements of the law."