There is a growing concern and interest in your columns about leisure facilities, swimming pools, branch libraries, and new social services funding.

Twelve months ago, the City librarian submitted a report to the council proposing a framework for the establishment of groups of Friends for the Library Service of York.

The report was approved. It was agreed then that a Friends of York Libraries could be established as an independent group. The initiative was included as a development in the annual library plan 1998/9. A poster campaign was mounted in all libraries. It attracted a growing interest among users.

A steering group has now held a number of informal meetings over six months, with a view to preparing a constitution, and a Friends launch early this year.

With new leisure services now in the spotlight and following earlier consultations to deliver best value, it may be opportune to launch the Friends group, at the same time seeking new users of York libraries.

D Hughes,

Central Library,

Museum Street, York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.