Library status

I DON'T know how often the "political opponents" of the SNP you quote expressing fears about the future status of National Library of Scotland (NLS) actually set foot in the NLS and its outposts — or log on remotely to its excellent online websites and catalogues (your report, 20 July).

But the constitution of the NLS is currently very different from that of National Museums of Scotland (NMS), whose submission seems to be the basis for the fears expressed by NMS, whose own board is stuffed with grandees from the private sector.

Trustees of NLS, in sharp contrast, include not only those with specialist knowledge but elected politicians, including the First Minister of Scotland and the MSP for EdinburghCentral and the Lord Provosts of Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.

I also note that there is no suggestion of ministerial interference in the operations of NLS — unless, for example, they started chucking out books. Under those circumstances intervention might indeed be justified, given that NLS is the only legal deposit library we have in Scotland. But given that staff at NLS lead the world in campaigning for open electronic access for all this might not be such a problem.

These are, however, issues for librarians and the library-using public (rather than for Sir Angus Grossart and his chums over at the NMS).

NEIL ROBERTSON

Glamis Terrace

Dundee