Letter: Doors are wide open

The Library and Information Commission's recommendations that university libraries open their doors to the public sounded out of date ("College libraries to open to public", THES , April 6). Many (most?) university libraries, including Keele, welcomed members of the public long before the phrase "lifelong learning" was coined. Here people use our general collections, archives and our electronic resources (when licensing allows this). We are not unusual and have not received a public penny extra to encourage us to do so.

Allan Foster
Director of information services
Keele University