Sir - I was pleased to read your editorial (March 14). The University of Oxford damages its reputation by such spin.

Nothing new is on offer to the public in the proposals for the New Bodleian. There is already an exhibition space in the Old Bodleian. Anyone who needs to read books from the collection may do so.

Moreover, this is a listed building and publishing promises before planning consent has been sought and the University's formal consent obtained is arrogant and misleading. As to the depository. It is not the city's fault that the University did not have a Plan B and appears not to be bothering with one even now, apparently in the hope that it can railroad its wishes through the forthcoming public inquiry.

The University should be ashamed of trying to cover up its long-term bad management of the library buildings with glamorous pictures of a fantasy building. It is an insult to the intelligence of Oxford residents, both council taxpayers and members of the University.

G. R. Evans (Prof), Oxford