Madam,

It was with much surprise that I learned, in the 22 August issue of the Cambrian News , that the Executive Team of the National Library of Wales had decided to discontinue publication of the Library’s long established and much-respected Journal.

Not only is the decision disappointing but the reason advanced for it is surprising.

It is claimed that there has been a major reduction in the number of articles submitted to its editor for publication. This contrasts with our experience in Montgomeryshire.

I recently received through the post the latest annual volume of our county’s historical journal, The Montgomeryshire Collections. The 2018 edition extended to 180 pages, but the current issue is even more substantial. It contains 15 contributions of various lengths but all of considerable quality.

The difference between The Montgomeryshire Collections compared with the National Library of Wales Journal is interesting.

The Montgomeryshire Collections is run by volunteers, receives no public funding and is able to publish in a printed format an annual journal ex - tending to 250 pages.

By contrast the National Library of Wales receives financial support from the Welsh Government and employs many academic staff, yet during 2018 was able to publish in digital format only one 14-page article.

It is puzzling that the editor of the Montgomeryshire Collections is inundated with high-quality articles, whilst the editor of the National Library of Wales Journal reports very few contributions. It would surely be more appropriate for the National Library’s Executive Team to focus on why this problem exists rather than ceasing publication of this much valued digital journal.

Yours etc, Rosemary Morgan, Machynlleth

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