A new name for the Berkeley Library

Shelf life

Sir, – Further to “Trinity invites public to help choose new name for library” (News, November 15th), why does Trinity need a new name for the Berkeley Library?

Whatever is chosen is bound to be greeted by some with disapproval, others with derision, or yet more with mystification. “Berkeley” lasted a mere 45 years and who knows which name will not fall victim to public opinion in the next half-century? Most universities manage by simply calling the main library the University Library: Cambridge has done so for 600 years. The Berkeley was opened in 1967 but didn’t get this name for 11 years, in the meantime being known appropriately as the New Library. Why not just revert to that name if you don’t like University (or College) Library? After all, it’s not that old, certainly compared with its neighbour, the (unnamed) Old Library. – Yours, etc,

JOHN BRISTOW,

Killiney,

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Co Dublin.