The first item of business on East Lothian education committee’s agenda was the “Tranent massacre commemorative event”. Our apprehension was reinforced on reading that this was “the 200th anniversary of the massacre of Tranent organised by the library service”. By the time we reached item 13 on the minutes, we were alarmed to discover that East Lothian is proposing to take part in National Libraries Week in November, one of its themes being “libraries are good for you”. Sinisterly, none of the events is planned for Tranent.