TAVISTOCK Writers' Group has met every week apart from Christmas and New Year since 1984. We are all members of Tavistock Subscription Library.
We endorse John Gale's view that the Library is unique and far too precious to become part of a public reference library.
That's why Library members pay their subscriptions (£10 per annum) — for access to rare books and other information.
Many have spent their own money on books. See Mr Gale's letter (Times February 15) for a fuller history.
The lapsed member, a councillor, who suggests that the Subscription Library has outlived its usefulness, is speaking with the zeal of the lapsed smoker.
Perhaps he prefers the passive entertainment of television to the activity necessary in reading.
Members of Tavistock Writers' Group cannot imagine any long-term arrangements at the new Public Library.
The modern principle of change for change's sake would ensure our eviction in a very short time. The same would happen to the contents of the Subscription Library the moment a new administrator, unaware of their importance, decided to scrap 'these old books'. Take a look at the 'For sale' box in any public library.
English Heritage spent a great deal of money on restoring the Subscription Library, the oldest in the country.
I wonder what they have to say about it.
John Tunnicliffe
Organiser
Tavistock Writers' Group