THE proposed closure of York Minster Library and it leaves me saddened and dismayed.

I have worked in this great library, also at Winchester, Lincoln, Durham, and the British college libraries, not to mention ecclesiastical libraries in Catalonia and Spain. I was graciously received in July 1997 by archivist Ms Sarah Costley when I came to York Minster with my wife to consult the York Gospels and enjoyed the beauties of York.

The treasures and traditions of York Minster library nourishes and supports the culture and study of a medieval past so desperately needed, in my country as in yours, to stave off the "present-ism" that floods us all. I hope some way can be found to sustain this great institution.

Thomas N. Bisson,

Lea Professor of Medieval History,

Harvard University,

Robinson,

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Updated: 12:03 Friday, June 06, 2003