Sir — As a qualified librarian, I am very disturbed by the proposal to close a number of libraries, including the one in my own village, Stonesfield.

Apart from being a user, I have first-hand knowledge of this library (and 12 others), as before I retired in 1996, I was a senior librarian for the West Oxfordshire area.

I know what valuable resources to the community libraries are, especially to the disadvantaged.

Access to books is a very important part of our culture. In my work, I have seen how people can be helped to a much better life by the use of books in their education. Libraries are a safe and classless place for anyone to study. They are also places where one can go and borrow books for recreation and personal interest.

Libraries benefit all generations and classes. Books are now an expensive commodity, and without libraries to help support the publishing world, many books would never be printed, and we would all be the poorer for it, even those of us who can afford to buy our own. Employment in the publishing industry would also suffer.

Like many older people, I do not have an Internet access at home, and my only local chance of using it is at the library. This must be the same for many older people, especially those who are on very limited incomes and who also do not have their own transport. The same applies for all ages of people who have a limited income, and to their children.

For library-users in Stonesfield, the nearest alternative is literally miles away and completely out of easy reach of many.

It has been suggested that our libraries can be run and funded by volunteers. This approach was tried in the post-war years. The initial set-up was fine, but quite soon the stock of books became worn and dated, and the volunteer pool dried up to a very few dedicated people. When they gave up, there was nothing until the county council stepped in.

One of my first jobs as a trainee librarian in the 1960s was to evaluate cupboards full of dead books.

I am very much aware of what could happen again.

I was present at the opening of the library in Stonesfield, and thought it was wonderful progress.

It will be a very sad and regressive day for us all if it has to close.

Janet Ansell, Stonesfield