Accessibility and Availability

[The paragraphs following are quoted extracts from letters and reports received from Reading Room librarians and church boards.]

Our Reading Room has been relocated on a busy corner frequented by pedestrians. The display windows are surely fulfilling their purpose and filling a need. Our librarians tell us that there is hardly a fifteen-minute period during the day when there are no readers. The study room is greatly appreciated by students of Christian Science in this neighborhood. The lending library has been much more active in our few weeks since the opening of the present Reading Room than in any three or four months in the former location. For the first time in many years we were completely sold out of the Christian Science Quarterly within the first month of the quarter. Formerly we would have from twenty to thirty-five Quarterlies to dispose of when the quarter was half over.

The ground-floor location of this jointly supported Reading Room with its attractive window displays is continuing to prove a blessing to many who are learning of Christian Science. Recently a window reader came in to study the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. On coming out of the study room some time later he purchased a copy. Sales of Science and Health continue to increase. One hundred and eighty-five copies have been sold during the past two and a half months. Three of these were French, nine German, seven Spanish, and one Swedish. The textbook has also been in great demand from those using our lending library, most of them newcomers to Christian Science.

The installation of a new street-level display case has brought a number of people to this jointly maintained Reading Room to inquire for the first time about Christian Science, to borrow the textbook, and to purchase pamphlets and cards on display in the salesroom. One visitor said he had seen one of the advertisements for Science and Health and the Reading Room in a local newspaper, but although he had been interested had done nothing about it until he passed the display case a few days later. After reading at the display case he had come directly to the Reading Room, bought some current literature, borrowed Science and Health from the lending library, and was grateful to be given a directory of the churches in this city and the program of broadcasts on Christian Science. Several who came directly to the Reading Room from the display case have returned to use its study room.

During the first five weeks in its present ground-floor location this jointly supported Reading Room has experienced a twenty percent increase in the number of visitors, and a seventy-four percent increase in the sale of the Bible, Mrs. Eddy's writings, other books and printed matter, and the Christian Science periodicals. Many workers from near-by buildings make almost daily visits to its study room in order to fortify themselves spiritually.

In negotiating for the lease of these premises, the building owners rated the Christian Science activity so high as to give our committee preference over other prospective tenants.

Interest in a more accessible Reading Room developed as members observed that those using the study room were all too few. Attendants felt that the church edifice location kept strangers from seeking knowledge of Christian Science. Those attending church services and some members felt it too inaccessible for frequent use. We realized that it was too far from the business district to meet the needs of those who have a limited time for Reading Room study. These points were discussed at several business meetings, resulting in a final decision to move the Reading Room to the downtown area. As a result, the room in its present location has had from fifty to seventy-five percent increase in the number of visitors. Study, library service, and sales, all are greater. Business people find the present location accessible, and members of our congregations agree it is more centrally located.

In January we moved our Reading Room into the ground-floor premises formerly occupied by a medical doctor. Later a woman came into the Reading Room. She had come to the address to see the doctor, and upon seeing the sign "Christian Science Reading Room" had hesitated. She explained that she had visited every other doctor in town and was no better. People had told her that Christian Science heals. She said that as long as she had come there she might as well learn about it and asked the librarian to tell her. Before leaving she bought a textbook. She later visited a practitioner, enrolled her children in our Sunday School, and now attends our church services.

We feel that this new location is blessing our community broadly.

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