Sir – Messrs Blackwell, Clarke and Graham blame the city council, district councils or environmentalists for the Bodleian choosing Swindon for its depository (Letters, March 26).

But a depository at Osney Mead would have been folly. Even if the building were floodproof, any flooding would have isolated it, preventing deliveries to reading rooms.

Until the city council rejected the Osney Mead proposal, the Bodleian insisted its depository must be within the Ring Road for books to reach readers easily (Report, September 21, 2007).

This might explain its rejection of Oxford and Begbroke science parks, but not Oxford Business Park. The Bodleian started seeking a site in about 2005, when the Business Park had ample space in its 88 acres.

I have seen no public explanation of why the Bodleian rejected each possible site near Oxford.

The Bodleian website claims a distant depository in Wiltshire will “have no adverse impact on reader services… daily deliveries will be made… to central Oxford reading rooms, the frequency of which will be matched to demand” and “the aim is to minimise carbon emissions, wherever possible. Although the site is 28 miles from Oxford, it is on a direct route to the city”.

When I have ordered books from the depository at Nuneham Courtenay, usually they have been picked out and sent five miles to me at a Bodleian reading room within a couple of hours. In future I must order from Swindon and wait while books travel 28 miles.

First, Royal Mail moves sorting to Swindon to punish postal workers, adding a 56-mile round trip to all local letters.

Now the Bodleian will add “book miles” to “post miles”. The shame is on Royal Mail and the Bodleian, but such caprice denies employment for Oxford and is environmental folly. Our mail and Bodleian should stay local!

Hugh Jaeger, Oxford