After reducing opening hours last year, York Central Library then proceeded to close for almost a fortnight for so-called refurbishment. Then came the closing on five days for Christmas and New Year.

For a long time now, the library has closed on the first Thursday of every month until 1pm. Now a notice has appeared informing library users that the reference library will be closed all day on Thursday, January 31 and Friday, February 1.

I remember well, during the library's summer "refurbishment" closure, seeing an American couple arriving at the library. They were visibly upset at finding it closed.

I told them I could help direct them to an internet café if they wanted to use computers.

They thanked me, but said they had come from America and had been looking forward to trying to trace ancestors. They had been told York Central Library was the place to visit for that purpose.

I'll never forget how upset the man was, and how embarrassed I felt as a York citizen.

Colin S Jeffrey, East Mount Road, York.