New-York tribune., 1900-12-23
SUNDAY OPENING OF LIBRARIES.
Mr.. PUTNAM AGAINST CLOSING THE LIBRA
RY OF CONGRESS-

Washington Dec. y (SpeclaD.-It will cost S12 900
year to open the Library of Congress to the public
on Sunday but Senator McMillan's proposition to
that end has been emphatcally approved by the
Senate committee having Jurisdiction and the
amendment has been added to the current Legis-
lative Appropriation bill, providing that the Library
shall be kept open from until 10 p. m on Sundays
Librarian Putnam to whom the advisability Of the
innovation the score Of desirabity and pracuca-
bility was referred in his opinion furnished 10
Congress was strongly affirmative on both ques-
tions He declares in the course Of his statement:
At present the entire building is closed from 10
O'clock on Saturday evening untn until 90 @ cITch t on On
ioyent and instruction of the art treasures with
strnction of the books This is a serious depriva-
tion First the ordinary residents OF Washlng-
bparv On secular days; second to the thousands of
men and women employed in the Government ser ser
ing to improve their education for more advanced
work ana fro 70 distsnce who ind their oppor-
tunity for the enjoyment OF the ouiIdlng ane me
week on which they would be most attractive and
most convenient. -
For the maintenance OF this Liorary ,s ana tne ne
building there is this year expended (excluslve OF
ne1t npreVementsl over $4,000 If the expend-
ture of $4,000 would ENABLE the Library 70 De
ent availa bility at an addition of but one-tweny-
seventh of its cost of maintenance Econ3mieaay a
plant should be idle influence for good in aoey-
during on 6o GRe elsewhere very
eray prevaiIed so that there is scarcely munich
portance which is not open on Sunday, IN az
least its reference departments ana eouIIhs I ore
no library which has attempted Sunday opening
that has abandoned It In every library Where @ II
than during an equivalent period of any secular
day. and it is use deemed more fruliul II s.ie
circulates books for home use. II must be sun
stronger in library which, ike the LnoIary %
reference merely. whose benefits cease when Its
doors closed.
From the general experience, from my own per,
sonal experience in the conduct Of two municlpal
Libraries opened on Sunday, and from considera-
fore strongly of the opinion that the Library Of
Congress should be opened on Sunday.
In conclusion Mr. Putnam gives list of some OF
the more important free libraries of the United
States which kept open on Sunday as long
ago as 1892 and then reported their experience as
a decided success and adds:
Should the question be raised as to the character
of the reference use probable on sunday Il may be
suggestive that during the last year me S4VoO Vol
were composed as follows; History science. the
useful arts, economics and mscellaneous literature
Tnoes issued for home use Ito members of Congress
and the other privileged eiasses1 hcuoh' o94 per
r. is believe the common experience OF Libraries
that the reference use on Sunday is more serious
even than that on weekdays, for the reason, per-
haps that the larger proportion OF the readers are
~. -. c,-aa.. o.,a.i,u =,
braries includes the Boston Public bridgeport Pub
lie BTookIyn Young Mems Christian Association,
SiaInIsnd Free Public Denver Public. Detroit Pub
nr DuIuth Public, Fftchburg Public. Hartford lIi-
brary Association Los ngeeS Pube
New-York. Free Circulating, New-York Young
Mems Christian He&%aIk & fsee pser e19ne P
lie Providence Public, Sacramento Free Public.
ST. 81 kEganciseo Free Sioux city Public Toledo Pub.
lie and Worcester Free