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Perhaps Michael Heaney should test his claims by becoming a daily reader in the University of Oxford¡¯s libraries himself, although he does confirm that the priority for that physical book collection of world importance is now to?go ¡°digital¡± (¡°Libraries in fine fettle¡±, Letters, 28 May).

He will rarely find a subject librarian to speak to. If you have a question for one, you must fill in a form saying who you are and why you want to know. Then email it to reader services. They promise to respond ¡°usually within three working days (Monday to Friday), and often within 24 hours. More complex enquiries may take longer to answer¡­We will respond¡­in all cases within 10 full working days of the receipt of an enquiry.¡± Probably by then the student will have had to hand in that essay and a visiting overseas researcher will have left the country.

The few remaining ¡°academic¡± librarians are even harder to encounter. I am frequently approached for help by readers because they can find no librarian who can give them a steer. When subject librarians were first introduced I asked, as a test, a straightforward question in my own area of expertise. Later that day, a worried member of staff sought me?out and said, ¡°Gill, we¡¯ve had a reader question. Could you answer it?¡±

G.?R. Evans
Oxford