New-York tribune., 1901-07-19
LIBRARIES ON SUNDAY.
DEMAND THAT THE NEW ONES SHALL.
BE OPEN ON THAT DAY.
DIRECTOR BILLINGS AND OTHERS FAVOR
THE sUGGEsTIoN-RESTRICTI ON
THE STUART COLLECTION


The tendency toward keeping public institutions
open on Sunday, which has been encouraged by
the success of the Sunday afternoon hours of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. is affecting the pub
lie library system and among those interested in
library work in this city opinion is practically
unanimous that the public should have access on
Sundays well as weekdays, to a large number
Of library privileges.
DR.. Billings. director of the New-York Public
Library system. said Tribune reporter yester-
day:
Il think that action will be taken to keep all our
libraries open on Sundays at reasonable hours
THESE hours WILL OF course not be the same every
wfere. The building IN Rivington-st.. for instance
VIII be used on Sundays at different hours than
the building Riverside Drive"
MR. CARNEGIE'S GIFT HELPS GREATLY
DR.. Billings said that because Mr. Carnegie's
gift 1t would no longer be necessary to economics
so rigidly In many directions and that the main
objection 10 opening the buildings on Sunday
would therefore be withdrawn. He thought it
would probably be unnecessary to keep the circu-
lating libraries open Sunday since readers want
Ing to keep books for several days at least could
easily get them on Saturday. The reading rooms.
or course. would be used on Sundays
The free circulating libraries the control of
which Is now merged in the general library sys-
tem We're open Sundays from their founda ton
until about two years ago. Then the Board of
Estimate cut down the appropriations and econ
ofny nad 10 be practised This done by clos
ing Sundays we'll as in other ways. But the
Sunday closing was regretted
ECONOMY CLOSED FREE LIBRARIES
"A gentleman prominently connected with the free
circulating libraries said yesterday:
Originally, We had good deal of discussion on
the point Keeping our buildings open on Sundays
seemed to work pretty well. but when we had to
cut down our expenses and shut the buildings up
on Sundays our circulation went back very little
or course, the people sorry to have read
ing rooms TO sit in. but they drew out books al
most as much ever. Personally 1 think that
all the library privileges possibly excepting those
OF the circulation department, ought to be ac-
cessible on every afternoon and evening in the
week. 7 don't think the buildings ought to be
open on Sunday morning. however"
At the Lenox Library, Mr.. Eames, the librarian,
said that in his opinion the departments OF any
library that would be opened Sunday the
best advantage were the children's room, the
periodical and the general reading room.
Other departments little used, would perhaps
better be closed. Such would be the department
of book rarities and the Oriental department
which would be little used that IL would be un-
wise TO keep employe duty in them But
| the Lenox Library has collection-that be-
CT eathed 10 II by Mrs. Robert l.. Stuart of this
city-that will have 10 be closed to public view on
| Sunday when 1t is moved to the building in
Forty-second-st., though the rest of the building
will be open. Mrs. Stuart divided her estate be-
tween several Presbyterian institutions the Amer
! lean Bible Society and the Lenox Library. The
paintings books and bric-a-brac which the library
| received were given with the condition that they
should never be exhibited on the Lords Day