Their Increasing Use By College Students

[From the Field]

Until the servicemen began to attend the university under the "G. I. Bill of Rights," university students rarely made use of our Reading Room. Now with greatly increased enrollment at the university and with more sincere interest in Christian Science among the returned veterans, we are feeling the need of a more suitable Reading Room location providing a better display space and located on a street nearer the campus.

Some of the students come regularly to study, others only when a specific need arises, as at examination periods.

When studying comparative religions at the university, a few men and women who had previously known little or nothing of Christian Science felt impelled to ask questions at the Reading Room. One student asked his teacher to attend the Christian Science lecture last year. The teacher did so and afterward said he enjoyed the experience. Announcement of the lecture was made to the class then studying comparative religions, and many of the class went. All of this has helped to create a much more lively interest in our Reading Room and has led to increased attendance at church services. With this in thought we have discussed our Reading Room hours in order to have them meet the needs of university men and women.

A university student who was to write a paper about Mrs. Eddy came to the Reading Room to get all the authoritative information he could about Christian Science. He was a member of a Protestant church, and he had selected Mary Baker Eddy's name from list of scientists, lawyers, physicians, and other prominent men and women who had helped humanity. The fact that lie had chosen Mrs. Eddy and her work as Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science as the subject of hit paper seemed to the librarian encouraging and significant. He read the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, then "Twelve Years with Mary Baker Eddy" by Irving C. Tomlinson. After reading these books he asked intelligent questions about practitioners. church services, Sunday Schools, the Benevolent Associations, and The Christian Science Publishing Society. His interest was so sincere that he was referred to the local Christian Science committee on Publication for further information.

A number of the students who attend the services the Christian Science Organization on the campus make use of our Reading Room, especially at examination time. We try to encourage their regular use of the study room and library facilities and do all we can to make them feel welcome and free to ask questions.

The growing interest of university men and women in Christian Science has prompted us to advertise Science and Health and our Reading Room in the university paper during the school year.

Students have called at the Reading Room to ask about The Christian Science Monitor. One window display in which The Home Forum page was shown brought a professor of modern languages in to inquire about the translation of the religious article. He purchased the issue shown and later subscribed for the Monitor.

College students tell us that our centrally located Reading Room serves a definite need when dormitories and rooming houses do not afford quiet places in which to study the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly. When these students are confronted with difficulties, they come to the Reading Room for studs of our Leader's writings. Healings have resulted from this use of our study room. In recognition of the students' growing use of the Reading Room the library was enlarged last spring. The books have since been used extensively by college students. We hope to extend Reading Room hours so that more students can use our library and study facilities.

University men have expressed gratitude for this Reading Room, and particularly for the part it has played in their freshman year when many adjustments have to be made. For some it is the first time they have had to share rooms, and the privacy of Reading Room study has been especially welcome.

Two students who knew nothing of Christian Science came in for information about its teachings when they were preparing papers on the subject, "The Power of Mind over Matter." One of these men borrowed the textbook and later renewed it.

Around examination time the librarian and her assistants make a point of looking up pertinent articles in the periodicals, which are called to the attention of the students visiting the Reading Room. We are told that the students have referred to these articles at the organization meetings.

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