Letter: Allowing for women

Sir: I think William Coulson (letter, 7 July) reveals the source of the chip on his shoulder: having had to stand around in the rain. To encourage all sections of the public to use services such as public libraries it is sometimes necessary to make allowances. For example, women may be encouraged to have the run of the library in the absence of an individual who believes that women are only capable of "lolling around reading glossy magazines". None of them could have been on big, important business like Mr Coulson.

I am no particular fan of women-only times at public libraries and the like because they don't benefit me, and I have, like Mr Coulson, found a trip to have been wasted. However, I'm not arrogant enough to assume that they therefore benefit nobody.

ADRIAN GAILOR

Edinburgh