26 JANUARY 1968, Page 25

Libraries amalgamated

Sir : I would be interested to know whether any of your readers could justify the existing division of reference library services in provincial cities between the Public Reference and the University Libraries? Both to a very large extent serve the same public—the university population. By amal-

gamating them and placing them under a central body the service would be greatly improved, an unfair charge on the rates would be removed, and money might be saved. Now that the National Libraries Committee has been set up, this seems to be a good time for a radical overhaul of the library system throughout the country. An im- proved service in the provinces would do some- thing to relieve pressure on the national libraries in London.

J. S. Whittingham 364 Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester 14