CULTURE Secretary Chris Smith throws the book at councils threatening to shut or cut the hours of public libraries.

He is quite right. After all, they are sources of help and knowledge that have advancmed countless individuals and society itself.

But when faced by the harsh realities of spending squeezes, it is hardly surprising that councils find libraries an easy target for cuts.

Mr Smith, as the minister also responsible for the National Lottery, would do well to look on our hard-up public libraries as a good cause for a giant grant - on a permanent basis.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.