NEWPORT school pupils are the first in Wales to pilot a new e-book system which allows them to borrow library books online and on electronic tablets.

Students at St Julian's School are testing the new e-book system, called RM Books, which will allow the 1,600 students to choose from hundreds of thousands of books on any computer device, from anywhere in the world.

RM Books allows schools to rent text books for the period they are needed and allocate them out to students.

Librarian Hilary Collins believe it will boost pupils' reading with a much wider potential to access different books, although physical books are still available from the library.

"We are so excited about this new virtual library, which is just the next level of technology that we want use to improve students' learning in every way," she said.

"We believe this will work brilliantly and will help students to develop even more of a passion for reading and learning."

The system will be run from the school's Cyber Learning Centre which has dozens of iPads, interactive boards and a giant multi-touch computer.