A REVIEW of the future role of York Minster Library could be held by Andreas Whittam Smith, the First Church Estates Commissioner.

The short-term future of the historic collection of books was secured last week after a U-turn by the Dean and Chapter.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, immediately announced he was setting up his own independent advisory group on the direction of the library - which has withdrawn its lending and borrowing facility. But York MP Hugh Bayley wants a separate investigation into the best way forward for the library, which was created 1,250 years ago.

He has written to Mr Whittam Smith, a clergyman's son and the founding editor of the Independent, to ask him to undertake his own review. Its findings could offer useful advice, Mr Bayley believes.

The former British Board of Film Classification chief is already carrying out a study on the future of Lambeth Palace Library, in London. Mr Bayley wants him to broaden its terms to include the Minster library.

In a letter to Mr Whittam Smith, he wrote: "The Minster Library is the largest cathedral library managed directly by the Church of England and it serves an area much wider than its own diocese, so its future should be of interest to the Church nationally as well as to the York Dean and Chapter."

Mr Bayley's request has the support of the Church Commissioner's

representative in Parliament, Stuart Bell.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, July 02, 2003