With the catchphrase 'give the dog a zone' M@x the dog has burst onto the scene to try and encourage young children in Devon to make the most of their libraries.

Devon's libraries do pretty well in the lending league, but the Devon Library Service is always hoping to find ways to get more children to borrow books.

M@x will feature as the central character on a new interactive website aimed at seven to 12-year-olds which is launched on World Book Day - Thursday 3rd March.

M@x's 'mother' is the Devon Libraries Webmaster Lynda Bowler, who created the character with help from her children.

"I worked with my own children to create a character that would be quite cool and would appeal to boys as much as girls," said Lynda.

M@x is set to appeal to both boys and girls.

"The team hopes M@x will encourage children to find out for themselves that libraries are great places to be, where there are loads of fun things to do."

The website itself will include information about books and reading along with quizzes, games, jokes, cartoons and regularly monitored web links.

But the library service hopes the site will soon become the children's own, as its interactive nature takes hold.

Children will be encouraged to send in any number of things to liven the site up.

Their creative talents will be encouraged with sections on paintings, photographs, drawings, jokes, stories and poems, all provided by the users.

Also the central aim to get more children reading hasn't been forgotten with book reviews and recommendations on the site - letting children point their friends and fellow Zoners towards books they've enjoyed.

M@x will encourage children to be creative and write as well as read.

Devon Library members also hold a chance of winning a M@x-pack if they use their library number when they send in content for the site.

M@x and his site will be launched simultaneously at seven libraries across the county on World Book Day.

All the libraries will have their IT suites open for the children to log on and meet M@x with a big 'birthday' party atmosphere with cakes, balloons and goodies all around.

With a special online quiz open over the 3rd, 4th and 5th of March, the library service hopes to see more children doing more reading, more often.

"For many years now Devon Library Service has run schemes to encourage children's reading for pleasure," said Saxon Spence, Devon's Executive Councillor for Lifelong Learning.

"We know we're only reaching a modest percentage of Devon children and are always looking at ways to introduce more children to the pleasure of libraries."