THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1880. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2088, 2 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1880. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

One of the most generally appreciated institutions in this city is without any doubt the Public Library. The reading room is almost continually crowded, the circulating department has a large number of subscribers on its books, and the benefit of the reference library is very generally acknowledged. Many improvements have of late been introduced into the various departments, but there is one point with regard to the reference room, to which we would wish to draw attention, as we feel certain that the public at large would be benefitted by some such a change as we suggest. The reading room is at present closed at 10 o'clock in the evening, and the circulating department at 9 o'clock. It is easy to understand why the latter department is closed earlier than the other, and, besides, no reasonable being can say that he has not plenty of time to choose a book. But with regard to the reference room there is a considerable amount of hardship to the reading public in its being closed at the same time as the circulating department. The bulk of the people, whom the library is supposed to benefit, are people who are employed during the daytime. For one individual who can use

the library during the daytime, there are ten or twenty who can' never get thert» until the evening. The latter are engaged in their offices, or at their several employments, up to four or five, or even later, in the afternoon. A short time is then given to the exercise necessary for health, then comes the evening meal, and then, and then only, can any adjournment to the library be made. Now if the time necessary for exercise and for tea or dinner be taken into consideration, it may easily be proved that it ia a most difficult matter to get to the library much before half-past seven. As to those who live some distance away from the library it may fairly be said that it requires a special exertion to get there before eight. Now, particularly when any special subject is studied, it is simply a waste of time to sit down for an hour only, and when an individual enters the room without any definite object, by the time a book has been chosen he has almost immediately to think of leaving again. His evening has been cut up and partially spoilt for an infinitesimal amount of good received. The reference library is so far unfortunately situated that it is impossible to enter it except through the | circulating library. Difficulties might i therefore attend any change in the direction of rendering admission into the former free between the hours of nine and ten. It might be taken for granted that the circulating department was open, and the attendants might be put to considerable trouble and annoyance. But we are quite unable to see why those readers who before nine o'clock are studying in the reference room should not be allowed to remain there until ten. That extra hour would make all the possible difference, and the concession would be greatly appreciated by the reading public. The lights in the circulating department would be turned down as at present, and a notice might be placed outside the door that there was no further admission. Only those readers already within the reference room would be allowed to pass out through tho circulating department up to ten o'clock. As the librarian, or an assistant, is on the premises up to ten .o'clock to close the public reading-room, the arrangement we have suggested would not in the slightest lengthen the hours of the staff, and we cannot see how any inconvenience would result. We cannot think that the frequenters of the reference department would take the slightest advantage of the later hour to render themselves in any way objectionable. If the frequenters were likely to do any such thing the sooner the room is closed the better. The reference library contains books that are not available to the public at large. Its purpose is to afford a valuable supplement to the general education of the people. The body of the people can only use the room in the evening. By allowing readers to remain there until ten, the time for study granted would be practically almost doubled for the greater number. We are confident that we are expressing the views of all those interested—and, indeed, public opinion is not silent on the subjectwhen we say that the authorities would be conferring a great boon if they could see their way towards making some such alteration in the existing arrangements as we have suggested.