The Guardian reported this week on the “battle of Britain’s libraries”, contrasting the visionary renovations of Cardiff, Newcastle and Birmingham with the traditional image of fusty old libraries. That some Councils see the value of investing in libraries is visionary indeed in a time of swingeing cuts and negative attitudes, yet it sits at odds with the words of Margaret Hodge, the Government minister charged with their care. In the interview with the Guardian’s Stuart Jeffries, she...