I hadn't realised there was a child genius in York! The Evening Press (November 25) showed a photograph of a 21-month-old boy in the Central Library and the said he was reading a book!

The accompanying article was about libraries encouraging parents to bring along their 'boisterous offspring.' The libraries say children won't be told to whisper and won't be expected to leave if they are 'wailing'.

I do favour promoting reading and libraries, but I fear the needs of regular users may be overlooked. I use the Reference Library as do many others. Often the volume of noise, mostly from small children, makes it difficult to concentrate even up there. Many people use it for studying. Libraries should always be places where you can find some peace and quiet to enable you to think.

I sincerely hope the screaming, shouting, crying 'active' children will, along with their over-tolerant parents, be confined to a separate room within the library. Preferably with closed doors and sound-proofing.

Colin S Jeffrey,

East Mount Road,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.