The scheme

Guy Daines, director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, had mixed feelings about the plan.

"Like every other public institution, finding other income sources is important for libraries and many have been offering readers free bookmarks sponsored by local firms for some time," Mr Daines said.

"Any product placement would have to be incredibly sensitive - in children's books, for example, or with adverts for something like a funeral director.

"There's also people's general dislike of junk mail to consider and the sheer time it will take for librarians to insert them all.