USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1898 > Part 12
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9.20
New England Oil Co., oil
54.56
Amounts carried forward $50,932.64 $68,943.01
235
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward $50,932.64 $68,943.01
W. F. Rowe, oil
68.03
Brooklyn Varnish Co., varnish
6.25
James Bartley, oil
6.08
Derby Desk Co., furniture
10.80
George H. Richter & Co., furniture
73.48
F. W. Allen & Co., furniture . 17.60
A. H. Fletcher, repairs of furniture .
12.95
W. F. Flemming, repairs of furniture
2.00
D. P. Bucknam, mason work . 42.00
Thomas Wood, mason work
29.75
E. A. Drowne & Co., lamps
24.60
Sewall & Day Cordage Co., packing
108.62
Cutter & Parker, window
frames
14.50
F. S. Blanchard & Co., book .
1.50
Thomas Groom & Co., station- ery
298.37
W. A. Greenough & Co., di- rectory
3.00
Municipal Engineering Co., magazines
4.00
" Fire & Water," magazines .
3.00
Engineering News Publishing Co., magazines 13.00
Heliotype Printing Co., charts
15.00
Jackson Caldwell & Co.,
shades .
8.30
J. H. Brooks, flannel
2.75
James Gurney & Co., boiler plates
15.95
Boston & Maine Railroad Co., freight
606.40
Amounts carried forward $52,320.57
$68,943.01
236
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward $52,320.57 $68,943.01
J. W. Howard, shrubs
218.65
Cambridge Gas Light Co.,
lighting 34.08
Somerville Electric Light Co., lighting
95.36
City of Boston, water ·
5.60
City of Somerville, water
74.40
New England Telephone &
Telegraph Co., rentals and tolls
379.71
W. A. Sanborn, bricks
43.50
Waldo Bros., bricks
16.25
M. A. Simpson, sand
13.00
Charles S. Robertson, pre- mium of insurance
100.00
H. Mueller Mfg. Co., fittings
14.56
Braman Dow & Co., fittings .
654.27
I. G. Marston & Co., fittings .
37.88
E. M. Dart Mfg. Co., fittings
9.33
Thomson Meter Co., meters .
9.90
Hersey Mfg. Co., meters ·
8.40
Union Water Meter Co., meters
20.00
National Meter Co., meters
31.70
Neptune Meter Co., meters
383.00
G. H. Sampson, forcite
27.65
Boston Woven Hose & Rub-
ber Co., hose
34.73
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., castings ·
507.20
Mechanics Iron Foundry, cast- ings
14.00
Coffin Valve Co., gates ·
937.50
Osgood & Hart, gate boxes, etc.
819.51
Frederick E. Jones, sketch
10.00
Amounts carried forward · $56,820.75
$68,943.01
·
.
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 237
Amounts brought forward $56,820.75 $68,943.01
W. H. Burbank, ribbons 2.00
Henry R. Worthington, re- pairing pump 32.52
Boston Lockport Block Co.,
repairing pump . 20.70
A. Z. Cowan, refreshments 47.25
Henry C. Hunt, leather pieces
15.00
Pettingell-Andrews Co., bat-
teries
6.96
Fred W. Farrar, repairing clocks 3.00
Frederick R. Cutter, repairing clocks
6.50
George D. Goodrich, drain pipe
17.52
A. J. Smith & Co., plumbing .
2.00
I. H. Brown Moulding Co., lumber
12.00
S. W. Fuller, lumber
208.92
R. E. Lord, mason work
7.20
J. Q. Twombly, painting
7.25
Jenkins Bros., radiator wheels .
.58
Thomas Hollis Co., sponges
3.50
Thomas W. Gleeson, gong
8.40
Sprague & Hathaway Co., frames
17.30
Somerville Journal Co., print-
ing
111.60
Somerville Citizen Co., print- ing
238 37
T. S. Buck, stamps
2 35
Charles A. Small & Co., soap .
.86
James Bartley, soap
4.08
Milton H. Plummer & Co., medi- cine
2.55
H. S. Garcelon, medicine
2.35
Amounts carried forward $57,601.51
$68,943.01
238
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward
$57,601.51 $68,943.01
J. F. Elkins, teaming 9.90
T. F. Crimmings, teaming
247.96
Frank W. Bickford, carpenter- ing
34.79
John P. Wahlstrom & Son, painting standpipe
246.25
C. Caseau, painting
5.75
G. A. Fellows, ties . ·
2.00
Philip Eberle, rubber boots
8.75
William C. Walker, rubber boots .
8.00
W. E. Plumer & Co., hard-
ware
394.02
Howe & Flint, hardware
46.31
Underhill Hardware Co., hard-
ware
27.85
Dominion Coal Co., coal
171.42
Wellington - Wild Coal Co.,
fuel
593.29
Horatio Wellington & Co.,
fuel
777.74
Highland Coal Co., fuel .
85.04
Scrannage Bros., stable sup- plies .
2.50
A. M. Wood & Co., stable fittings
.67
H. C. Abbott, wood
54.00
Charles Booth, wood
·
8.13
J. S. Bradeen, wood
6.00
W. H. Way, veterinary ser-
vices
22.00
John Cooper, horse
130.00
Bancroft's Express, express- ing
3.15
E. R. Perham, expressing
1.45
.
.
Amounts carried forward . $60,488.48
$68,943.01
239
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward $60,488.48
$68,943.01
George T. Day, expressing .85 .15
Glines & Co., expressing
Gilman Express Co., express-
ing 4.80
R. H. Gunsenheiser, compen- sation for damages 16.40
Martin L. King, compensation for damages 20.00
Charles R. King, compensa- tion for damages
1.50
Alexander Munroe, compensa- tion for damages
6.00
Lawrence Cotter, money re- funded
5.00
Mary Allen, money refunded .
5.00
Elizabeth Morrison, money
refunded .
2.00
George W. Prichard, money refunded
2.90
Samuel Shaw, money refunded
19.50
Richard B. Falvey, money refunded ·
9.60
Richard R. Wyllie, money re- funded 5.00
Emeline T. Sherman, money refunded ·
2.50
Susie E. Moran, money re- funded ·
2.50
Elizabeth Ross, money re- funded
5.00
Suzella & Maidelle Cummings, money refunded . 2.50
Mary E. Kingsley, money re- funded 5.00
Sewers, Maintenance account, repairs 56.10
Amounts carried forward $60,660.78
$68,943.01
240
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward $60,660.78 $68,943.01 Builders Iron Foundry, cast-
ings
1,240.27
$61,901.05
Water Works Extension account,
amount transferred
7,000.00
Excess and Deficiency, balance
to credit of account 41.96
$68,943.01
WATER SERVICES.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of Andrew R. Lewis, additional charge on service pipe $8.98
Water Service Assessments, cost of services laid
3,516.24
$3,525.22
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers
$1,544.21
Water Maintenance account,
stock and labor .
1,597.06
Balance transferred
383.95
$3,525.22
WATER SERVICE ASSESSMENTS.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of Sundry Persons, water services
$3,516.24
DEBIT.
Water Services, pipes laid in 1898
$3,516.24
WATERING STREETS ASSESSMENTS.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of Sundry Persons
$757.08
Watering streets, amount abated Balance to debit in account, 1899
22.80
16.12
Amount carried forward
. $796.00
·
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 241
Amount brought forward . $796.00
DEBIT.
Balance from 1897 .
$796.00
WATERING STREETS.
CREDIT.
Appropriations, amount assessed -
$ 3,500.00
Taxes, assessments levied .
13,384.48
Cash, received of abutters .
$ 36.40
West End Street Railway Co., season of 1898
309.48
345.88
$17,230.36
DEBIT.
Cash, paid N. C. Barker, over- seeing .
$765.00
Frank Buttimer, watering
958.85
Martin Gill, watering
952.23
Henry McAvoy, watering
982.25
A. M. Prescott, watering
991.28
J. B. Rufer, watering
984.51
R. M. Sturtevant, watering
494.52
C. P. Sanborn, watering
450.71
Thomas F. Casey, watering
453.04
T. F. Crimmings, watering
453.04
John F. Elkins, watering
906.09
Eugene Gormley, watering
906.09
Mrs. Henry Gray, watering
453.04
Henry McAvoy, Jr., watering
453.04
Philip McGovern, watering
444.79
I. L. Smith, watering
450.71
Benjamin Thomas, watering
531.99
I. H. Wiley, paint .
6.03
Highways account, painting carts
12.00
Amounts carried forward
$11,649.21
$17,230.36
242
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward .
$11,649.21 $17,230.36
J. L. & H. K. Potter, watering carts and repairs
896.01
Seward Dodge, repairs of carts 85.50
L. A. Wright, repairs of carts
51.45
F. Dooris, repairs of carts
1.00
Frank W. Leavitt, repairs of
carts . .75
J. B. Rufer, repairs of carts 6.30
Somerville Journal Co., adver-
tising . 6.25
Somerville Citizen Co., adver-
tising .
5.50
Charles S. Robertson, premium of insurance 40.00
H. Wood, keys
.65
Watering Streets Assessments, abatements .
22.80
City of Somerville, water
4,250.56
$17,015.98
Excess and Deficiency, balance
to credit of account
214.38
$17,230.36
WATER WORKS EXTENSION.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated $20,000.00
Water Maintenance account, amount transferred 7,000.00
$27,000.00
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers $ 5,610.95
Rufus E. Lord, contract for
the construction of stable and shop .
10,948.36
Amounts carried forward · $16,559.31
$27,000.00
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 243
Amounts brought forward .
$16,559.31 $27,000.00
Aaron H. Gould, services as architect ·
670.00
Hatch & Farnum, floors
76.00
W. A. Murtfeldt Co., grano- lithic work .
615.93
J. T. Croft, stall fixtures
40.90
Priest, Page & Co., scale
119.00
Frank W. Bickford, carpenter-
ing
96.10
W. J. McCarthy, chip stone
1,014.40
W. F. Cleveland, electrical work .
174.09
E. J. Miers & Co., pitch
3.60
Chapman & Soden, pitch
6.00
S. W. Fuller, lumber
117.36
Star Brass Mfg. Co., gauges .
23.25
Braman, Dow & Co., fittings .
725.06
Howe & Flint, hardware
546.97
Boston Lead Mfg. Co., pipe
93.46
Neptune Meter Co., meters
1,504.55
Hersey Mfg. Co., meters
1,238.00
National Meter Co., meters
1,604.50
Union Water Meter Co., meters
1,475.10
Thomson Meter Co., meter
8.90
Fred W. Gow, meter clamps .
69.50
City of Boston, meter fittings.
160.29
City of Cambridge, castings
2.00
Osgood & Hart, castings
5.90
Portland Stone Ware Co., drain pipe
20.05
$26,970.22
Excess and Deficiency, balance to credit of account 29.78
$27,000.00
244
ANNUAL REPORTS.
WATER WORKS, INCOME.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of Sundry Water takers $195,456.15
DEBIT.
Water Maintenance account,
amount appropriated . $60,000.00
Interest account, amount appro- priated
11,925.00
Reduction of Funded Debt account, amount appropri- ated 22,000.00
Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, Metropolitan water
assessment of 1898 .
14,250.19
Sewers, Construction account, amount appropriated . 67,280.96
Water Works Extension,
amount appropriated . ·
20,000.00
$195,456.15
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 245 .
TABLE D. BALANCES DECEMBER 31, 1898.
Cash .
$
70,376.04
Public Property .
2,752,368.55
Real Estate Liens
1,664.60
Sewer Assessments
7,435.90
Sidewalk Assessments
5,193.11
State of Massachusetts, Burial
of Indigent Soldiers and Sailors 455.00
State of Massachusetts, Indi-
gent Soldiers and Sailors
257.00
State of Massachusetts, State Aid .
10,848.50
Taxes ·
355,654.19
Watering Streets Assessments Armory .
16.12
Excess and Deficiency
16,549.22
Fire Department, Fire Station Clarendon Hill .
7,650.00
Funded Debt
1,552,000.00
Highways, Paving Webster
Avenue, Fitchburg Railroad to Cambridge Line
253.25
Overplus on Tax Sales
157.13
Property and Debt Balance
1,200,368.55
Public Library
7.40
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund .
1,000.00
Reduction of Funded Debt
9,099.63
Schoolhouse, Burns Addition
12,000.00
Schoolhouse, Ward Two
28,221.47
Schoolhouse, Prescott, Heating
and Ventilating .
2,483.77
Amounts carried forward . $3,204,269.01 $2,839.913.18
$ 10,122.76
. 246
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward . $3,204,269.01 $2,839,913.18 Sewers, Construction
16,882.23
Sundry Persons 27,473.60
Support of Poor, Almshouse
20,000.00
Temporary Loans
300,000.00
Amounts carried forward . $3,204,269.01
$3,204,269.01
REPORT OF THE
TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 18, 1899.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 18, 1899.
Referred to Committee on Printing, to be printed in the annual reports, in concurrence.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE SOMERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1898.
TRUSTEES.
JOHN B. VIALL.
CHRISTOPHER E. RYMES.
J. FRANK WELLINGTON. CHARLES H. BROWN.
CHARLES W. SAWYER.
CHARLES A. WEST.
CHARLES S. LINCOLN. EDWARD C. BOOTH, M. D.
GEORGE W. PERKINS.
OFFICERS.
CHARLES S. LINCOLN
President.
SAM WALTER FOSS .
Secretary.
COMMITTEES.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS .- Rymes, Viall and Brown.
ADMINISTRATION .- Wellington, Sawyer and Perkins.
BOOKS AND CATALOGUES .- Lincoln, ex officio, Rymes, Viall, Brown, West and Booth.
FINANCE .- Sawyer, Wellington and Perkins.
LIBRARIAN.
SAM WALTER FOSS.
ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN.
ADELE SMITH.
CATALOGUER. F. MABEL NORCROSS.
ASSISTANTS.
ANNA L. STONE. MARY J. WARREN.
ESTHER M. MAYHEW.
MABEL E. BUNKER. MARY S. WOODMAN. F. EDWARD KAULA. AUBREY A. HILLS.
JANITOR.
CHARLES A. SOUTHWICK.
250
ANNUAL REPORTS.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1898.
CREDIT.
Appropriation
$7,500.00
Dog Tax
2,268.86
Fines
472.17
Catalogues .
31.00
Books sold .
12.76
Cash found in safe
2.45
A. Storrs & Bement (overpaid bill)
3.00
. DEBIT.
Balance from 1897
. $ 139.01
Books and periodicals
2,881.18
Binding
854.95
Cards
21.75
Printing
211.60
Stationery
47.03
Salaries
4,608.35
Agencies
151.40
Furniture
160.34
Repairs
135.93
Express
201.53
Electric light
260.37
Gas .
30.10
Water
26.00
Fuel .
183.78
Postage
15.00
Telephone
58.52
Labor
39.75
Insurance .
191.25
Supplies
24.55
Disbursements
40.45
Balance carried to 1899
7.40
$10,290.24
.
$10,290.24
.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
December 27, 1898. TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL : -
Gentlemen : - The annual report of the Trustees of the Public Library is herewith respectfully submitted.
The last year has been an eventful year in the history of the library. On March 7th, Mr. John S. Hayes, librarian and sec- retary of the Board of Trustees for five years, suddenly died in the midst of a career of usefulness to the community, and of honor to himself. The trustees have elsewhere expressed their sorrow at his early death, in formal memorial, but cannot refrain from again bearing testimony ; as Trustees, to the great value of his services to the library, and as friends, to the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. By his intelligence, energy and enthusiasm the library underwent a new birth, and took her rightful place in the newly-awakened movement of the library as an educational force.
During his term of service the great work of classifying the volumes of the library, by subjects and on an approved decimal system, was carried out and a finding-list prepared. Selected collections of French and German works, and books for the blind were added. Important relations were established with the public schools, and a monthly bulletin was begun, designed to bring readers more in touch with the resources of the library and facilitate a more intelligent use of its collections-these changes tending directly to a largely increased use of the insti- tution, and in his own words " to the laying of a foundation for greater usefulness in the future."
Thus, in the midst of a realization of results accomplished, and in the sanguine hope of greater achievements in the future, the earnest and successful educator in two co-ordinate
252
ANNUAL REPORTS.
and related fields, the good citizen and the loyal friend passed from his earthly work.
In looking for a successor who should appreciate the true position of the Library of To-day, as an educational factor in the community, and vigorously take up and carry on the work begun by Mr. Hayes, the Trustees sought a man who, besides being a person of ideas, energy, self-confidence, good business habits, and a broad, general education, should possess a critical taste and a deep and abiding love of literature and a large acquaintance with it, united with an enthusiasm and tact in leading others to a knowledge of its benefits and enjoyments. Familiarity with the technical work of a library, though, was deemed not essential, and a preference was given to a resident of Somerville.
The first choice of the Trustees was Mr. James F. Beard, cashier of the Somerville National Bank. Mr. Beard, a grad- uate of Dartmouth College, had long been a valued member of the School Committee, had always been identified with the best interests of the city, and was largely and favorably . known among the citizens. Mr. Beard accepted the position only to recall his acceptance a few days later, as his services were found by the bank directors to be indispensable to the bank. The subsequent choice fell upon Mr. Sam Walter Foss, the poet, a resident of this city for the last ten years ; and the Trustees believe themselves fortunate in securing a person so nearly conforming to the standard set. Mr. Foss was elected on May 16th, and in his annual report has given ample evidence of his comprehension of the needs of the library and the part it should play as an educational force in the community.
Miss Clara L. Bidwell, the capable assistant librarian, had sent in her resignation before Mr. Hayes's death, but kindly consented, at personal inconvenience, to continue her services till a new librarian was elected. In April her place was taken by Miss Adele Smith, a competent person who had received a theoretical and practical training at the Amherst Library School, and had had six months experience in this library. The efficient cataloguer, Miss Norcross, and the corps of assistants have continued in the service of the library acceptably and without change.
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 253
Those who were familiar with the work of a public library twenty-six years ago, when this library was established, will be struck with the difference in the scope and magnitude of the work now demanded of such an institution.
During the last twenty years the public library of the country has been evolving itself from a passive and conserva- tive institution to an active and radical means of education. Formerly the object of a library was chiefly to hold a collection of books, whose jealous custodian was the librarian. Books there were for those who wished to consult them, but it was a matter of indifference whether they were consulted or not. The library of the present day, however, has been gradually taking on a new function. It not only aims more widely to unfold its treasures and to open the easiest possible road for inquiry and investigation regarding them, but apprehends that it fails to fulfil its highest mission, unless it actively goes out and offers in various ways its benefits to the people. This activity, now recognized as vital to the proper success of a pub- lic library, is incidental to the times and is analogous to that now prevailing in the commercial world. Formerly, the country merchant came to the city to buy ; now, while sitting in his office he is overrun with travellers bringing their samples, and crying the superior merits of their goods. Formerly the householder sought the butcher and the grocer, and carried home his supplies himself ; now, he is visited every morning, and orders are solicited and goods promptly and gratuitously delivered. Similarly, all articles of trade are skilfully brought before the public attention by samples or descriptions, and pictures, through the mails, or by liberal advertisements in the magazines and daily papers. In this great modern American movement the publishers have not lagged behind, so that multi- tudes of books, good, bad and indifferent, have been crowded upon us, sent out into the world with indiscriminate notices of praise. In this embarrassment of intellectual material, when books can be borrowed for the asking or bought for a song, when to read the daily papers and the insignificant fraction of the constantly appearing magazines is no light task, we become cloyed and indifferent to our advantages in the surfeit about
254
ANNUAL REPORTS.
us. We are strongly tempted to read what first comes to hand, or what is most artfully foisted upon us, rather than to exert ourselves to make a judicious selection ; indeed, it requires no little knowledge, planning and resolution to make a fair use of our opportunities.
If this perplexity exists in the case of the adult, how much greater must it be in the young who are at the threshold of their education and experience ! Indeed, it is a matter of fact that children, when left to themselves, generally do not make a wise selection in their reading. The worthless and the bad being more prominently brought before the attention, tends to keep out the good. To meet this perplexity in the child, the modern library comes forward with its good offices, both by its own guidance and helpfulness in the institution itself and in co-operation with the schools. It establishes a children's depart- ment in the library building, where children can be entertained with suitable good reading, and it sends specially selected libra- ries to the schools. The children's room is made as attractive as possible, and its frequenters are made to feel that they have an ownership in the room, and that it is to some extent under their protection. Here they may consult the best juvenile magazines and take down from the shelves and examine such books as they please. In the second branch of children's work the books of the special libraries are given out by the teachers to the pupils to carry home, or are lent to be read during school hours, as a reward of good behavior, or of proficiency in school work. These school libraries naturally help to form the taste of the pupil, and carry good books into many families which have pre- viously had no relations with the library. These methods of children's work will do much to cultivate the habit of good read- ing among the young, which is such an important part of an education, and cannot fail in time to bear fruit in a better citizenship.
To return to the subject of the methods employed by the library to make its collection more accessible to the pub- lic :- the principal means to this end is a comprehensive, up-to-date card-catalogue. Such a catalogue, which is a very important part of a library's equipment, should embrace not only a list of all the books contained in the library, both by subjects
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. 255
and by authors, but also a ready reference to topics incidentally treated in the various books to which the titles themselves give no cue. Other methods are the issuing of monthly bulle- tins, the posting of special lists on topics of general or local interest, and by the use of the local papers.
Allied to the subject of affording better facilities to the reader and student is the general recognition that the resources of the library should be accessible to the public for the greatest possible number of hours in the week. How far the Somerville library has advanced in the past of the Library of To-day, as outlined above, will be seen by reference to the Librarian's report, which is appended to this report, and made a part of it. The various recommendations herein presented have been care- fully considered by the trustees and have received their endorsement.
It will be our province only to touch upon and emphasize a few of the points brought out in the Librarian's report.
It may be said at the beginning that the library needs some expenditure to develop certain departments, either in which was an original deficiency or where rapid modern progress has left the department behind the times.
The want of a suitable catalogue has long been felt and has now become an urgent need. It has, indeed, been slowly pro- gressing during the last year as the leisure of the cataloguer and the assistants from routine duties has permitted, but it should be rapidly pushed forward and finished during the com- ing year. This can be done only by a considerable outlay for cases and cards and by the hire of an additional assistant.
It will be seen that the library is working harmoniously and successfully with the schools. To the high schools, books are very freely supplied for reference and collateral reading. To the various rooms of the grammar schools, special libraries are sent as hitherto. This work is suffering, however, for the want of sufficient duplicates, that the schools in all sections of the city may be equally served. The children's room has been highly successful since its recent opening, but this department requires an immediate outlay to ensure its proper usefulness.
The trustees have not yet been able to throw open the doors of the library for so many hours of the week as they think
256
ANNUAL REPORTS.
desirable. It seems unjust to the great body of the people that they should be debarred from a use of the library at almost the only times in which they have the opportunities to use it. With the means at command, however, it has not been practicable to increase the evening opening beyond the present two evenings in the week ; but it was found that very little additional expense would suffice to open the reading and refer- ence room on Sunday afternoons. Consequently, this innova- tion was made in November.
In the matter of Sunday opening, the trustees believe that no arguments are necessary in justification of their action. The propriety of such a step has been recognized in this country by the general opening of the public libraries in the larger cities, and in England, by the formal opening by Parlia- ment in 1896, of the six great libraries and museums of Lon- don, on that day. As showing the trend of thought which brought about this great innovation in England, we quote from the words of the Lord Bishop of Manchester, and of Lord Hob- house. The former says : "I firmly believe that the cause of what is best and highest in our national life, both secular and religious, will be promoted, not hindered by our encouraging the use of public libraries and the study of masterpieces of art and the treasures of archaeology and science, on Sunday after- noon, by those who, as a matter of fact, are precluded on week days from availing themselves of such opportunities."
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