ALTHOUGH Brighton’s Jubilee Library lacks a section for crime fiction, one mystery stares every reader in the face.

Across the floor there are 256 electrical sockets, of which only a dozen are in use.

Many have wondered at this surreal set-up, and some hope that the rest are to supply lighting above rows of much-needed proper shelving (there is natural light only from the south).

At a recent meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council, however, Councillor David Smith flatly denied that there would be the installation of any such replacement shelving. According to him, these sockets are for “flexibility”.

Eagerly signed petitions continue to voice the widespread demand for more books and shelves. (Many complain at having to crouch down continually in front of the present, meagre ones).

Alas, Cllr Smith simply banged his hands together and declared that the current situation is “good”.

He also refused to give an opinion of the recent key speech by a member of his own party, Ed Vaizey, who said that “a library without books – lots of books – is not a library”.

There have been some welcome moves in the library system, such as the imminent influx of classic works.

The latest official national figures from Cipfa, however, bear out the public view that more books are urgently needed.

At 3%, the proportion of the library budget spent on books is among the lowest in the country.

That is not good.

Christopher Hawtree, Westbourne Gardens, Hove