Crandall Library history — Sunday openings in 1895

Reading restores the spirit, but the act of checking out books requires work is the gist of a plan The Crandall Free Library Board approved to open the library on Sundays without violating the Christian prohibition on labor on the Christian Sabbath.

The library was open for reading, but not checking out books.

C. A. Mosher agreed to supervise the library during the Sunday afternoon and evening hours.

“Mr. (Henry) Crandall offered to meet the additional expense of keeping the library open if the plan met with the approval of the trustees. He thinks some of the young men who are employed during the week, who do not attend church, but spend their time on the streets, might be induced to go to the library and devote a few hours to self-improvement if it was kept open,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on Jan. 26, 1895. “The project is essentially experimental, but Mr. Crandall, prompted by a desire to help a class who would be most benefited by the library, is anxious to give it a try.”

Sunday opening was scheduled to begin Feb. 3.

“Those young men who make a habit of standing on street corners and in doorways on Sundays will have an opportunity to pass a few pleasant and profitable hours in the reading room,” The Morning Star reported on Feb. 2. “Self-respecting young men will go to the library in preference to obstructing public streets in the annoyance of order-loving citizens and police officers whose duty it is to keep the walks unobstructed.”

The response was good.

Quite a number of young men availed themselves of the free library yesterday,” The Morning Star reported on Feb. 4. “More will probably do so as the fact becomes generally known that they will be admitted on Sundays.”

There were 72 visitors to the library on Feb. 19.

In other Crandall Library news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “Henry Crandall has provided an excellent electric clock for the Free Library,” The Morning Star reported on Dec. 28, 1894.
• William A. Wait was elected a library trustee on Jan. 25, 1895.
• The book “Popular Astronomy” by Camille Flamarian was added to the library collection, The Morning Star reported on Feb. 11, 1894.
• “The young men who are to take part in debates and those who prepare papers for the Lyceum realize the value of such an institution as the Crandall Free Library,” The Morning Star reported on March 15, 1895.
• “Many library books are out that are long overdue. Notices have been sent out, and no responses are made,” The Morning Star reported on March 22, 1895. “Some of the cases have been put in the hands of an officer for investigation and others will be unless the books are soon returned.”

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