SO the number of books borrowed has plunged 15 per cent during the past five years and the editorial in the BEN (August 24) finds the cause difficult to work out.

Well perhaps it's due to the fact that, during this time, a number of libraries have been closed and the others placed on shorter opening hours.

This is hardly a recipe for encouraging people to read.

As an avid reader and regular user of my local library, I think the £500,000 being spent on internet access, should be used to re-open the libraries that have been closed and put the rest back on full opening hours.

J Taylor

Deepdale Road

Breightmet