Books and libraries

Sir, – Fionnuala Ward (An Irishwoman's Diary, May 17th) writes fondly of the local library of her childhood. She also writes fondly of her present local library from which she can readily order any book from the "ever-helpful staff" and get it in a "week or so".

Much of the value of a local library is books on shelves, which can be browsed and discovered. I was fortunate as a child to live close to a well-stocked local library and came across many delights on the shelves, as well as a few life-changing books.

Since I did not know of their existence, I would never have found them for myself and ordered them.

More books, please! – Yours, etc,

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ALAN TUFFERY,

Dublin 5.