Subscription cuts could save libraries

through an article in the Yorkshire Post, I was able to go to a sale of redundant material at Doncaster Library.

The amount of periodicals offered for sale astounded me. There were piles and piles of periodicals for sale at only a fraction of what a subscription would cost.

I was able to buy 10 years of The Spectator for £10. The cost of a subscription to The Spectator is £104 per annum. If libraries were to cut their subscriptions to periodicals and newspapers, then this would be a significant saving and might mean that library services to outlying villages would not be cut. A choice has to be made – libraries or periodicals, but not both.

From: Gerald Hodgson, Spennithorne, Leyburn.

THE first paragraph of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 states: “From the commencement of this Act it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to superintend and promote the improvement of the publc library service provided by local authorities in England and Wales and to secure the proper discharge by local authorities of the functions in relation to libraries confered on them as library authorities under this act.”

This suggests to me that the current wave of proposals to emaciate the library service may be contrary to statute as well as very short sighted in terms of creating a civilised and educated society. This issue is especially urgent in rural areas where a closure can mean that the nearest library is perhaps 12 miles away and not, in practice, accessible.

Freeze on the economy

From: Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley.

Having just paid my monthly credit card bill, I realised it was lower than usual, so I checked back on the previous year, indeed it was the lowest monthly spend throughout 2010. The account covered three weeks in December and one in January; my reaction was naturally due to the severe cold weather and snow. Presumably others had a similar experience?

The initial predictions for the final economic quarter were published indicating a reduction of 0.5 per cent (Yorkshire Post, January 26) and Ed Balls plus other anti-coalition MPs, and similar minded media pundits rounded on the Chancellor to berate him for mentioning part of the cause was the record coldest month of December.

It certainly accounts for my low spend; three days after the first snowfall I was marooned for five consecutive days, even then I stayed very local not venturing to any major cities in the county. Thus I endured a very subdued December. George Osborne’s weather comment appears accurate, whilst his opponents begin to look foolish.

Talking the talk

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

THE delightful profile of Paul Allen (Yorkshire Post, February 5) refers to every Yorkshire septuagenarian’s idol Sir Len Hutton. Mr Allen suspects that Len would have had to temper his Pudsey accent in the days of Players and Gentlemen.

You bet; like Sir Alf Ramsey, he ended up talking posh somewhat in the way of a sergeant-major. He would say “bettin’” [batting] and Ramsey would say “pahsin’” [passing]. Aware of the stuffiness of the FA in those days, Sir Alf is reported to have taken elocution lessons to help him get on.

Much lesser mortals have been touched by the hierarchical nature of sports administration in the past. In 1958, I received an invitation to attend a meeting of the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association in order to be presented with my county colours. It began “Dear Sheridan”. I kid you not; I still have the letter.

Conflcting signals

From: Barrie Frost, Watson’s Lane, Reighton, Filey.

FREQUENT television commercials are received informing me that the switchover from analogue to digital signal will be made in August/September this year. No analogue signal will be made after this date and failure to prepare will mean a loss of television channels.

Similarly, all maps and media reports I have seen confirm that Yorkshire will receive the digital signal then and that the Oliver’s Mount transmitter, of which I have an uninterrupted view around 12 miles away, will start to transmit the digital signal on August 3, 2011.

However, the website of Digital Uk, which we are asked to visit, did not confirm this. After entering my postcode, as requested, it said I would receive the digital signal from the Bilsdale transmitter, but it would be in 2012. Such mixed messages don’t exactly inspire confidence and do not assist television retailers and ancillary businesses, for this latter information doesn’t appear to be correct, does it?