THE worlds of the bookworm and the gym bunny are about to collide, with the launch of what town hall officials hailed as a "novel" plan to install exercise equipment in Liverpool's libraries.
The city will today become the first in the UK to begin decking out some of its normally more tranquil buildings with keep-fit kit, including squat machines and shoulder presses.
The idea is to encourage library users to "build fit bodies as well as fit minds", said council fitness manager Mark Jones.
But he assured book lovers the new mini-gyms would not spoil the hushed atmosphere at Liverpool's Central Library on William Brown Street, where the scheme is being piloted.
Five new machines worth £12,000 will this morning be "discreetly" installed away from main reading areas, in the second floor computer area.
The equipment will not be open to the public until September 4, and if successful, the scheme will be rolled out across the rest of the city's libraries before the end of the year.
Mr Jones said muscle-toning equipment like bench presses were chosen because they are quieter than sweat-inducing cardiovascular equipment like exercise bikes and treadmills.
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