Of course club floorsingers and occasional semi-pros regurgitate songs from someone else's CD, they always have done. However in a great many cases the professionals making those albums have obtained those songs and tunes from sources in the VWML. That is what I meant in my earlier post about the material being disseminated throughout the folk scene. There are probably a great many singers who, without realising it or having visited it themselves, rely on material from the Library. I include myself.

People repeat the mantra about the importance of the Library because it is true. Have you any reason to think people aren't using it, or that the drawbacks you describe actually cause problems in practice?

I can't comment on the suitability of C# House for the Library. I share the view that the building is now out of date. However disposing of the site is not without problems - not just planning, but I seem to recall there are conditions in the trust. But even if the building could be sold and capital released, both EFDSS and VWML would have to be rehoused.

Any alternative HQ for the EFDSS would have to be in London in order to be able to lobby the arts establishment and funding organisations - although some people would prefer to believe otherwise, it has to be involved with the arts world and that is the only way it can have any influence or obtain significant funding.

Likewise, London is the most accessible location for most people coming not only from around the UK but overseas. No location will suit everyone, but the idea that Camden Town is difficult to get to does not bear scrutiny.

Derby is 1 1/2 hrs from London by train. Because I would need to change at least once, it takes a similar time from where I live in Cheshire, which is only 40 miles away - Euston takes only 20 minutes more.