The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-21
WANTS THE LIBRARY OPENED ON SUNDAY 9eSSemer Thinks This Would
 Be More Effective BIG SHOOT BY GUN CLUB Bessemer Workmen Will Also Have Barbecue on October 4-Personal
 and General News of
 Bessemer.
BIG SHOOT BY GUN CLUB

Bessemer, September 20.-(Special.)- Some question has been raised in the city as to whether the Carnegie library should be kept open for two hours on Sunday afternoon or not. The matter as it stands is simply this: The library is now open every afternoon and every even ing in the week. In fact, is opened in the morning and remains open until noon when tho librarian goes home to lunch, is opened again in the afternoon and is closed long enough for the librarian to go home to supper. It is then opened and remains open until 10 O clock in the evening The question has been raised as to whether 1t would not be better to dispense with the morning hours and keep it open for two hours on Sunday afternoon. One of the ladies most prom inently connected with it stated last eve ming that she thought this would be an excellent idea. and furthermore would work no hardship on the librarian, as it would save her a good many hours that she would not ordinarily have to herself.
 The class of people that the library was FNPPCSSNA benefited by it as the matter now stands. It was constructed with the view to helping those persons that could not af- ford a library of their own, or who were not in position to purchase books or magazines. Most of these people after they have worked hard all day, do not feel that they are dressed well enough to go up to the library, on account of the fact that they are sure to encounter ladies about 6 o'clock in the evening, while on the other hand they do not feel like going to their homes and coming back. Possibly they have not the proper surroundings for night reading, as a good many of them have only lamp light, and this at best is very poor
 fl, however, the library were to be kept open on Sunday afternoon for two hours, there would do doubt be a good many who would take advantage of it and be enabled to spend a couple of enpoyable hours by reading the magazines in the library or else looking over a good book
 The library, as it has started out, does not seem to have appealed to this class of citizens and this is just the class that should be benefited by it. When Mir Car negie sent his check down here for $19 900 he did not tie any wrappers around it, he simply gave 1t, and it is certainly up to the board of control to see that the library reaches the classes and masses.
 Most of the people that are patronizing the library at the present time, are per sons that can afford to buy books them selves, or else they can stop by the li- bray and take a book home and have good light to read by. Several persons have been approached on the subject. and they state that they can see no req son why the hours could not be changed around so as to permit of the Sunday aft ernoon opening. The library would have been opened on Sunday afternoon had it not been for ex-Mayor Sullivan. When the matter was brought up for discus sion, before even the library was com pleted, his ideas on the subject seem to have been very decided, and inasmuch as the city had done a good deal for the library (and by the way MT. Sulli- van stated at a meeting lnat he repre sented the sentiment of the city; every one is allowed to guess once regarding this), the rest of the committee did not like to oppose his views with regard to the opening.
 He had certain ideas that he believed should be carried out, and although it is doubtful if he ever read Robinson Crusoe, still he believed he was in a position to regulate the reading matter and hours for other people.
 Several volumes of books have been given to the library within the past day or two Doctors Winters and Waller gave some scientific works and John Maddoc donated through Mrs. J. Fred Robertson the complete works of F. P Roe.