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Difficult for an ‘oldie’ to adapt to modern society
• AS an “oldie” myself (81), I empathise with the views of Beryl Bainbridge, Doris Lessing and Jonathan Miller (‘We need new libraries worth shouting about’, September 11) it is very difficult for us to adapt to a society which has changed almost beyond recognition.
I am also “computerphobic”, which means I am marginalised if not cut off from “modern life” where email rules OK.
However, I feel a distinction needs to be made between public, national, academic and specialist libraries.
With only about 30 per cent of our so-called developed country going anywhere near a library or bookshop, the public library should be as user-friendly as possible.
Bearing in mind a person-to-person contact is just as important as the books, I trust our librarians – already relegated – will not eventually be dispensed with altogether come the introduction of the “self-service” machines so the baby is thrown out with the bathwater.
EILEEN EARNSHAW, NW3
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