As a regular user of Barnet Libraries I was shocked, on a recent visit to Chipping Barnet Library, to find rows of empty bookshelves in the adults’ reference section, particularly in the art section, but also in the children’s section.

On asking a member of staff why the stock of books appeared to have been suddenly sorely run down, I was told that books were being sold off but not replaced.

I appreciate we are in difficult financial times but if books are being disposed of, and not replaced, that is surely intellectual vandalism.

I understand that Councillor Rams is fronting a “comprehensive review” of library services at present. Perhaps he could tell us why he seems to be presiding over an appalling, depressing and totally unnecessary decline in the borough’s stock of library books?

Robert Verrill
Sherrards Way, Barnet