6 APRIL 1985, Page 17

Index of civilisation

Sir: Your editorial and letters pages (9 March) have recently taken to accusing this city of being uncivilised because of an alleged lack of secondhand bookshops. In Birmingham there are at least eight second- hand bookshops as follows: The Birming- ham Bookshop and S. Wycherley in Selly Oak, Peter Ellis and Maxwell Books in Acocks Green, D. Esplin in Moseley, Bracken Books in Sutton Coldfield, Mid- dleton's Bookshop in Greet and Westmins- ter Books in Rotton Park Row.

T. H. Caulcott

Chief Executive, City of Birmingham, The Council House, Birmingham