Books that go missing

Published: 30 July, 2010

• I AM worried that in this time of financial stringency, the Home Library Service has the practice of “depositing” books with readers in care homes, making no attempt to retrieve them, even if they are wanted by other readers – unless a fuss is made (for their return).

If not, in due course the title is either removed from the catalogue or recorded as “no copies available”.

I have been documenting this in some detail, and get no satisfactory replies.

The head of library services tells me that readers with Alzheimer’s and dementia are given six weeks to read books.

The leader of the council claims that staff make every effort to retrieve a book that has been reserved; I have every evidence that this is not the case.

It would be helpful if other readers who have encountered this (it seems unlikely that I am singled out) would let me know.

DIANA S SIMPKINS
8 Dagmar Passage
Cross Street, N1