The Washington times., 1901-12-10
SUNDAY OPENING
OF THE LIBRARY,
ADVOCATED IN ANNUAL REPORT
MIR. Putnnm's Experience in Mnnng
ing the Institution Causes Him
10 JrEc Adoption of the
Plan for Coming Ienr.


annual report, made public yesterday.
He emphasizes the Importance OF this
recommendation by making it the main
feature OF the report. There are inter
esting reviews also on the adyisability
OF making the library a storehouse of
valuable collections of art and of in
creasing the already great value OF the
division OF manuscripts by securing the
services OF a talented historiographer.
All Objections Answered.
Mr. Putnam handles forcibiy the dis
cussion on Sunday opening, meeting the
objections raised against the proposed in
noration and showing the utility OF the
plan. He says:
'All the use and enjoyments of these
! exhibits. Of the interior architecture and
decorations of the building. and of the
books themselves are absolutely forbidden
| to the public except on the six secular
days of the week. For one-seventh of the
year the entire institution. this great
plant. with all its energy for good, lies
| idle.
AT the last session of Congress- while
| the appropriation bill was pending, an
amendment was offered in the Senate by
| the Chairman OF the Committee on the
| District making provision for the opening
Of -he Library during portion of each
Sunday latter : p. M. The amendment
was referred TO the Committee on the Lii
brary. reported favorably. and referred by
them to the Committee on Appropria-
tions. 1t was adopted by that committee
and Incorporated in the appropriation bill
as it passed the Senate. But il fell out in
| conference.
Special sunday Service.
This may have been through some mis-
apprehension of its purposes or effect The
Sunday opening of libraries and museums
is, however. now so general that the ap-
plication to a particular Institution has
ceased to be discussed as a question of
utility much less as religious question.
but purely as a question of local need and
Of pecuniary ability. Compulsory Sunday
labor is not involved. In the Library OF
Congress. rs generally elsewhere, the pro-
vision would be for a special service
This might consist in part at least. Of
weekday employees. but only at their own
solicitation. for extra pay; and in no case
would any employe serving during the
week be permitted to work every Sunday.
nor more than four hours Of any Sunday.
Extending Library's Utility.
TITS use would be in part by visitors
from out OF town, to whom now every
Federal institution in Washington. save the
Geological Park. is closed from Saturday
evening till Monday morning; it would be
in part by the men whose profession is in
1...N sIa--
cupied with routine research within their
respective bureaus; It would be in part by
employees in the executive departments
who are Interested in serious reading.
and it would be in a large degree by men
and women whose weekday hour must
be devoted to the mere business which is
their livelihood and the work-day even
ings to mere physical regeneration and !
whose only opportunity for cultivation |
comes on Sunday. that the Library would |
be used. The Corcoran Gallery is omen /
on Sunday afternoons. The crowds which 4
visit il are evidence OF the need and the 4
appreciation.
Expense Small Item.
ITO open the Library THAT IS, the
building. the exhibits, the main reading /
room. and the reading room for periodi-
Gals and newspapersl on Sunday after
moons and evenings would cost less than
$4,000 a year-less than per cent OF the
present annual expenditure for mainte-
nance. / cannot believe that Congress Will
ignore an opportuni y for such great ben
eft at so slight additional EXPENSE and 1
have included the provision in my esti-
mates for the next fiscal year
Attracting Valuable Gifts.
Referring to the attraction OF gifts to
the Library, MIR. Putnam says:
The Library can. indeed, hope to at
tract gifts only by three means: First, by 1
a building which will house them safely |
and commodiously-th 1t has. Second. |
by administration which will safeguard |
them and render them useful-ths IT is
developing. Third, by considerable ex-
pendltures Of its own In the acquisition OF
material which viii bring the material |
given into honorable company and will at
tract notice to it by increasing the repu-
tation of the general collection. These ex-
pendiiures it must be prepared to make.
All three OF these factors have operated
in the case OF the British Museum. Price
less collections have come to it by gift
They have come largely for the distinc-
tien Of association and service with col
lection already the most distinguished In
the world, made so by the direct effort OF
the Government"
Manuscripts and Scholarship.
Mr.. Putnam says that there is no di-
vision in the Library more important in
its possible service TO historical research
than the Division OF Manuscripts. He
says there is none in whose conduct
thorough, authoritative scholarship is
more necessary. II Is to this division
that gifts must be attracted
the expert judgment must be there to at
tract them.
Mr.. Putnam recommends the appropria-
tion OF $4,000 as salary for chief of
this division, who" Mr. Putnam says.
among other qualities must have aca-
dcmic training. facility in at least half a
dozen languages, a knowledge OF political
and literary history. a thorough and pre-
else knowledge Of American history. a
knowledge OF original
a considerable knowledge OF
and familiarity with the
character and conduct of the manuscript |
in other libraries and in the
archiye Offices abroad. as well as in this
The advance in the work Of the library |
since taking possession of its present ex
4