The evening times., 1897-01-25
THE LIBRARY At EVENING
The Question of Night Opening
Now Being Agitated.
LIGHTS TRIED ON SATURDAY
Librarian Spofford Answers Some
Questions From the East WASH
ington Citizens Association-No
Provision for Night Work In the
Pending Bill. But 1t VIII Be Made.

The new Library of Congress will wait
tli near the 1st OF March for the settle
ment of the problems involved in its set
ting In place and its operation, which nave
already been undertaken by Congress The
Dill making the appropriation viii hardly
pass before that time, and IL is to be feared
that the question which II ost Intimately
concerns all residents of washington may
have TO walt much longer than that for all
answer. That question is whether the Ii
brary shall be opened for use at night.
Nevertheless a general discussion of the
matter has sprung up, and will be continued
till The most numerous, and in many re-
spects the richest collection OF books on
American soil is given the widest possible
opportunity for usefulness 1t Is possible
tnaG IL may one day be not only open at
night, but that it may be open at abse-
lu6ely all hours. This would be only a
continuance OF a line of development which
has resulted in regular labor by hundreds
OF men every night now where there were
not tens fifty years ago
The East Washington Citizens 4 ssocia-
tion a few days ago addressed an inquiry
to Mr. SpoffOrd regardingthe opening Of the
Library at night. The matter will be fully
discussed in approaching meetings or the
association, and no effort viii be spared to
bring about the result
TIE advantage Of night opening Will, Of
course, be more direct to residents on
Capitol Hill than To others, but 10 viii by
no means be limited to citizens of Wash
ington, either there or elsewhere. Increa,s-
Hp / Of
gress is coming 70 be consulted and used
for months at a time by persons wkO live
elsewhere but come here for no ether pur-
pose than to prosecute their inves1 igations.
There would undoubtedly be much more Of
this If the books were accessible greater
portion Of each day
A Times Reporter caIledon Librarian Spof-
ford last night in regard to the question If
opening the library at night in reply TO
a question, Mr.. Spofford said:
Il sec the subject is already being dis
Cussed in communications to tie papers. as
L was sure it would be; and there VIII lc
memorials to Congress, and the agitation
VIII be kept up until the object is accom-
plished.
Il had letter ON yesterday from the
East Washington Citizens A sSOCiation, ask
ing some questions inregard 90 the matter,
but have not yet had time To reply. l hope
10 do so tomorrow. The association IS
made up Of gentlemen who look after the
interests Of that section of the city with
much zeal, and they are naturally DESTROYS
to have the library open at night They
ask whether | am in favor OF il. OF course,
L ara, and have always been. They also
want to know whether the building Is sup
piled with lights, and whether there is any
provision for extra help for the night
work.
The opening Of the library in its old
Quarters has been discussed. | was in
favor Of it. but it was voted dow in the
Library Committee. 1t was objected that
there was no light, and the cost of putting
in gas would be too great; also that there
was no justification for tie additional ex-
pensc necessary to furnish attendance. and
that there was not room, anyhow, for the
numbers who would seek the place If 1t
were open at night. Some Of these reasons,
OF course, were good, and some were not,
but they sufficed to keep the library closed
at night.
But now that the great new rradIng
room n tile rotunda will be available il is
nat uFai 10 hope tllat Jlle DOCKS VIII ne avail
able at night as we'll as by day. 1 am in
favor Of it as a move i n the cause of general
intelligence Tire library ought to be not
only accessible and useful to members Of
Congress at all reasonable times. but It
should be open to the public at the hours
when they can best avail themselves Of II,
both day and night 4 library is great
educator, 1t in order TO be useful it must be
used, or, rather, it is useful in proportion
as it is used.
LAS To the light for night work, the
building is richly supplied. We gave On
exhibition OF its workings Saturday. There
were present Senators Morrill,, Sherman,
Hawiey. CullOm Brown, Representatives
Cannon. Bingham, Blue and others, and
few invited guests. Under the direction
OF the superintendent. Mr.. Green, the build
ing was gradually lighted up ill every
part Of it was illuminated, including the
readng-rUOm and galleries. The great
building was much admired as 1t appeared
by artificial light. Many of the marble
effects and decorations were finer by the
electric light than by the sun.
with this abundant supply Of artificial
light. I am in favor of using the library at
night as early as practicable. OF course,