THANK you for your paper's generous coverage of the difficulties besetting Rita Freedman and the future of York City Archives.

I worked as Rita's assistant at York City Archives from 1972 to 1990 and I am still a frequent user of the records in pursuit of my interest in local history.

As a York native I am proud of my city and concerned that its heritage, particularly its historic records, should be properly appreciated and preserved by the city council.

I find it incomprehensible that the university was able to include in its lottery bid the incorporation of the city's record in its new library extension on the Heslington campus, when the city councillors had not been informed and discussion of the archives was not in their programme until February 2001.

The university's scheme would add prestige and bolster the public service aspect of their lottery bid, but would offer an improved service only to university staff and students located on the Heslington campus.

Many ordinary users would be deterred from going out to Heslington, both by difficulty of public access and by a natural reluctance to venture onto university territory, which can seem strange and unwelcoming to many people.

At a University Record Office surely university concerns would be given priority. York City Archives are important enough and large enough to stand on their own.

The city centre site is ideal and the premises have been adapted to a high standard for archive storage within the last 20 years.

I can see no advantage either financially or in improved services for the move; rather the contrary.

Mrs M A Thallon,

Cherry Tree Avenue,

Newton-on-Ouse, York.