It comes as no surprise to read in the Gazette of last week that Ealing is to lose its professional librarians in the fourth restructuring since 2003.

Such a move has been on the cards for some years and reflects a nationwide trend. For example Hampshire County sacked all its qualified librarians some time ago.

Why? Well it doesn't help that these days most heads of library services are not librarians. Councils seem to believe that in the age of the internet there is no need to have qualified librarians. It's reassuring to read that library user Stephen Pimbert, in the same edition of the Gazette, clearly sees the need for such staff.

One has to ask the council: would they employ unqualified solicitors in the legal department, enthusiastic amateurs as environmental health officers and Bob the Builder as borough architect?

The reduction in staff numbers by 25 posts makes no sense either given that even with the existing staffing level there were a series of unscheduled library closures last year due to, wait for it, staff shortages.

Mr Pimbert asks about the reduced book stock. If he means the empty shelves at the refurbished central library, then I've been told that there is a lot of stock in boxes still waiting to be unpacked. Why? You've guessed it, not enough staff.

Many of you will remember the long delays in refurbishing the central library.

History now seems to be repeating itself. West Ealing Library closed for refurbishment on November 1.

I'm told no work has commenced there and won't do until February.

Why the delay? Why deprive West Ealing readers of the use of the building for three months?

It sometimes seems that the council lives in an Alice in Wonderland world where, like the White Queen, they can believe six impossible things before breakfast. The trouble is that as a result staff will be made redundant and we, the users, will suffer in the long run.

PETER LUDBROOK

Hanwell W7