Letter: Library hours

Sunday 06 July 1997 23:02 BST

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Sir: E Pallis, (Letters, 2 July) seems to think we are out of tune with library users' needs, particularly in relation to opening hours. Our research shows that users do want to see longer opening hours - so do we, but we can't fit a quart into a pint pot.

To meet the opening hours that our readers desire, including extending evening and Sunday opening, costs would be in the region pounds 800,000 a year. We are currently looking to see how this can be achieved.

Perhaps a way forward would be for libraries to become eligible for lottery funding. As E Pallis states, libraries have the potential and are positioned to play a greater role in people's daily lives.

FRANCES MANGAN

Assistant Director

(Libraries, Arts & Tourism)

London Borough of Camden

London WC1

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