TODAY we heard the devastating news that the council is proposing to cut the libraries funding by 75 per cent and the museums by 100 per cent.

When we moved to Hereford more than 14 years ago we went to the library to enquire about book groups only to discover that there was nothing in the city. Three years later we were invited to an inaugural meeting at the library and Hereford Readers Group came into being.

From that slow start the reader development librarian has since 2008 built up a network of 118 groups. Many of these borrow readers’ sets from the library. The logistics of allocating books to that number of readers over a 12-month programme must be daunting.

Many people are unable or unwilling to buy a new book each month, but being challenged to read something strange, and then discuss it is exhilarating.

Keeping the mind alive and interested is a great way of enjoying life.

What have the people of Herefordshire to look forward to?

Reduced staff, books and hours at the libraries and possibly no museum and no access to the resource centre in Friar Street.

We know that these are difficult times but surely this is a very short sighted policy?

MICHAEL AND MARY ERNEST, St Charles Court, Lower Bullingham.