I fully concur with the sentiments expressed by Rosemary Ostick (Your Letters, November 4), it is scandalous Worcestershire County Council cold-heartedly makes a profit from amateur artists, who should really be encouraged.

No doubt the council will argue there are administration costs involved but as an artist who has exhibited in a library, I can inform you from personal experience that all the pictures are hung and catalogued by the artists themselves and indeed removed by them at the end of the exhibition. All that is involved from the library is the booking and taking the money if a picture should be sold.

The main bulk of the administration costs is in the billing of the artist to the exorbitant commission of 3l.9 per cent (including VAT).

All this must surely be considered in the context that this is a public library and the artists are contributing to the community by decorating what is a blank wall.

Some thought should really be given to the costs incurred by the artists, who give of their time to exhibit, their expertise in producing a work of art and the expensive cost of framing.

All this means the artists make very little from a piece of work which has taken considerable time to produce. Hence the very high prices now being charged for pictures that are exhibited, which are necessary to cover the huge amount taken by the council.

This, of course, puts them beyond the reach of many prospective purchasers, so really very few pictures are sold and it can be said the council has out-priced itself!

Jill Lloyd, Stretton Grandison.