THE Tavistock Subscription Library is special to the Town, to Devon and to the Country. The letter (Times February 22) from the Association of Independent Libraries, which includes the London Library, shows with what regard our library is held in the country.

I have the pleasure of using it most days of the week to browse the local newspapers, journals and even to do some work! What a pleasure it is to sit in this quiet, historic room. There is that link to our Abbey, to its printing press and things of learning.

We are all supporters of the public libraries and particularly look forward to the new facilities in Tavistock. The Subscription Library is different. It is a specialised library in an historic place and like all good libraries has developed a social side to its affairs.

Let us hope this unique, small library can remain where it has been for the last 170 years (the library is over 200 years old) and continue to serve the local population and live in harmony with its neighbours.

John Killingbeck

Lamerhooe Barn

Horsebridge

TAVISTOCK Writers' Group (in association with Tavistock Subscription Library) is grateful to chairman John Davies for his eloquent and gracious letter (Times, March 8 ).

On behalf of the writers' group I extend his invitation to visit the library, to incorporate a visit to one of our regular meetings on Tuesday afternoons 2.30pm to 4.30pm. I include in that invitation Councillor John Wright who, in his letter to the Times (March 1), asserted that 'in essence' I had accused him of having misled the council. Quite untrue. I suggest that he reconsiders the wording of his letter.

John Tunnicliffe

Watts Road

Tavistock