Sir – Keith Mitchell’s suggestion that authors oppose library closures because they have a vested interest is beneath contempt, but at least it shows that he expects the consequence to be that fewer books will be borrowed. Given the value of libraries for education this will be a direct attack on our children, especially those in villages with poor transport and those who do not go to fee-paying schools, which can afford good libraries. The councillor should be ashamed of himself, and we should all be ashamed of our council.

P J Stewart, Boars Hill