SIR - The name David Barnett will be perhaps familiar to your readers. Many of us recall some of his articles in our beloved T&A but I must confess to ‘playing away' and glancing at The Guardian recently, where his piece on volunteers in our district's libraries appeared. Much as I am in favour of ‘volunteering' (in my case as an elected governor in my local NHS Care Trust and are  working as a Quality Visitor in the Council's care homes ) | do hope the slippery slope of non-professional involvement doesn’t get out of control.

There'll always be a need for council/income tax payers to seek appropriate professionally trained staff providing re-assurance whether in children's services involving health and welfare or frequently related associated interests like the joys of reading and lT skills.

As I peck this out on a Shipley Library computer, not for the first time do I realise why the excellent staff of Karen, Suleman, Tracey and the rest of the team are such an asset to our community and, trust, continue as solid proof of our council's commitment to its stated values.

The phrase 'dedicated .professionals' springs to mind.

Dr Sidney Brown, Glenhurst Road, Shipley