Bradford Council's library service is buying only half the number of books, CDs and DVDs that it should be.

Library chiefs have denied a funding crisis despite purchasing just 54,000 of the 102,000 items experts recommended in the past 12 months.

Their denial came despite the inter-libraries loan service, which gets up to 400 requests every month, being suspended since January to balance the department's books.

On top of this no new books have been ordered for Central Library since December - but bosses say this was an accounting decision based on the end of the financial year which fell on Friday.

Ian Watson, the Council's head of libraries, said it was impossible to buy all the books it wants despite the service's base budget increasing over the past two years.

But he said books are now being ordered again: "Because it takes suppliers between six and eight weeks to supply new books, if you order in January it comes out of the 2007 accounts."

Mr Watson has yet to find out what the service will get from this year's settlement, but he confirmed money has been found for a new library in Haworth and a £250,000 computer system which will free up resources for front-line services.

Bradford's libraries are currently undergoing their third major review in a matter of years, and Mr Watson said some service charges may need price rises.

The inter-libraries loan service, now back in place following the three month suspension, charges £1 per order but costs nearer £10 to run.

Only last month Allerton Library moved to modern premises on Avenel Road and has begun offering longer opening hours, but Mr Watson said he can never give long-term guarantees about library services.

"Certainly in the short-term the prognosis is healthy. For the first time in ten years we have had a capital growth and our revenue budget has increased.

"The Council recognises a library service is needed and we are doing the best with what we have got."