and may be hastened by anything that tends to broaden and liberalize that sentiment, and, when the time is ripe, by taking advantage of any propitious occasion for introducing it. From what has been said, I conclude that public libraries, for the use of books in the building ought to be open on Sunday. I can see no reason for circulating books on that day. The objections urged against such opening are of little weight, compared with the urgent claims of the unprivileged classes for such a work as the highest conception of Sunday and the ideal library spirit call upon us to do. It has been in successful operation for a term of years in many prominent American and in several English libraries. Just the people who, as we maintained, needed to be reached by Sunday opening, have responded to the opportunity and proved the demand by a constant and growing use of such privileges. It is approved by most of our leading librarians, and always gets a good word from the Library journal. The obstacles of prejudice and limited means in the smaller libraries may be overcome by time. 1877. (See Library journal, v. 2, p. 274; L. A. U. K. Proceedings, 1877, p. 171):—“I think the hours that a library is open must correspond to the hours in which any considerable number of people will come to it. All night, if they will come all night; in the evening certainly, and on Sundays by all means. We have fought and are fighting the "Sunday question" as to libraries in America. People who were once tortured with the idea now accept it. I appreciate the merits of conservatism; I do not believe in forcing, but I do believe in ripening. In any community the time for benefactions and philanthropy on Sunday will ripen in the end.” My object in bringing this subject before you has been to induce thought and to provoke discussion. I cannot hope to have convinced any one who did not believe in Sunday opening. If I have shown that it is a subject worthy of serious thought from every student of library science and from every practical librarian, I shall be content. I hope to continue the study of this subject, and will gratefully welcome any bit of experience throwing new light on it, whether it confirms or contradicts present conclusions. Address M. S. CUTLER, New York State Library, Albany, N.Y. The final word on this subject was, I think, said by Mr. Winsor at the L. A. U. K. in For the discussion on this paper, see the PROCEEDINGS (Third session). Do not believe it right. 5. Never heard expression. 6. Librarian quotes, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," as argument against Sunday opening. *7. Have no special objection, only library would be used but little. |