I HOPE Newcastle City Council has provided a budget for cleaning the library building now that the figs are gone.

The building needs a clean-up and the airconditioners on the roof look extremely ugly for what is now a centrepiece of Newcastle.

The windows remind me of a neglected warehouse in the back streets of Waterloo in Sydney. Through the windows you can see dirty curtains, chipboard, stacked chairs, bookshelves, airconditioners and bits and pieces.

I would hope that the determination and energy shown by the council in removing the figs could now be directed towards renovating the library building. This probably includes additional airconditioning units not only for the library, but also the art gallery. The cooling effect of the figs is now gone.

Anna Kaemmerling

Cooks Hill