Letter: Home for historic library

HISTORIC libraries continually face the problem of remaining alive while retaining past glories (letter, 24 March). The inspired placing of the books of the King's Library in a glass tower at the heart of the spacious public areas of the new British Library, will very soon allow it to be fully appreciated at least as well as in its "original" home.

In the splendours of the King's Library room at Bloomsbury, the exhibitions and museum surroundings made it almost a matter of background; now it is seen as fully part of the British Library, and gives new character to that library. There are regrets at the separation of the collection from the rooms built to house them; but this is essentially a question of architecture.

PETER HOARE

Chairman, Historic Libraries Forum

Nottingham