THE tension at York Central Library between certain groups of library users could be resolved were one simple step taken: return the children’s section to the annexe it occupied prior to the recent refurbishment.

This is nothing to do with marginalising or demonising children, or a return to the days of “Silence, please”. Most adults want children to have an enjoyable library experience which will develop a love of reading and all the lifelong benefits that entails. But that cannot come at the expense of ruining the library experience for significant numbers of adults, which is what is happening.

The fact is, in certain situations mixing adults with children just doesn’t work. That is why the two groups have separate hospital wards.

Similarly, children need their own room in the library, a brightly painted space, the alphabet round the wall, with books and toys galore, a place where they can run around, shout, cry and caterwaul to their hearts’ content.

That’s what kids do and should be allowed to do – in a dedicated annexe, not the adults’ section.

Stephen Dalby, Mill Farm, Yapham.