Improving Their Service

[Note: Extracts from report prepared for the Reading Room Division by the board of directors of a branch church]

After maintaining a Reading Room in various locations in this city since January, 1913, the membership, aroused by the thought of the advantages of a street-level location, voted to appoint a committee to secure a suitable ground-floor Reading Room. This action took place on February 26, 1945. Several properties were investigated but were found to be unacceptable.

Prayerfully the committee continued its search until the early part of 1951, when quite unexpectedly a church member was told of a prospective vacancy of a small store just a few steps off the main street at the city's busiest downtown intersection. While all agreed that the location was ideal, it was thought at first the space might be too small. However, floor plans were made, and a great deal of thought was directed toward making the best possible use of the available space. By careful planning and the designing of furniture especially suited to fit the room dimensions, it was concluded that the store could be converted into a comfortable Reading Room which would admirably suit our purpose.

Membership consent was quickly obtained, and committees were appointed to supervise the remodeling, secure the furniture, and attend to the carpeting and other details. Since rent had to be paid for both locations during alterations, the work was expedited so that within seven weeks the move could be made. Members contributed services and funds to accomplish the transformation; loving hands helped to accelerate the finishing touches. With joy and gratitude the new Reading Room was opened on February 19, 1951.

As to the results accuring from this progressive action, we quote excerpts from the annual report of the Reading Room committee:

"There has been so much interest shown in the opened books in the Reading Room window that one cannot say how great a contribution these displays are making towards the progress of Christian Science here. For instance, a minister read the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures' by Mary Baker Eddy, which were in the window. He then came in and asked the price of the large Bible and wanted to know how he could read 'the other book,' as he called it. He borrowed a copy of the textbook, brought it back at the end of two weeks, and purchased his own copy. He said, 'If I could just get them [his parishioners] to follow this book it would keep them on the right track.' There have been people from four other different religions which we know of who have come in and inquired about Christian Science; and one of these inquirers reads the books in the window several times each week.

"Others come in from time to time who tell us that they had been interested in Christian Science some years ago but had drifted away from it. They purchase Quarterlies and other periodicals and begin reading and studying again.

"One man followed the librarian into the Reading Room one morning, and after looking around said, 'I don't quite know what I am here for, except that I like to read Christian Science literature.' After some inquiries about Christian Science he purchased a Sentinel.

"During one week there were purchasers and readers from Wisconsin, Florida, California, and Wyoming who possibly would not have found the Reading Room if it had not been on the ground floor.

"There are so many interesting experiences which the attendants have in the Reading Room that it would be impossible to even begin to tell them at this time.

"Our ground-floor Reading Room is certainly putting Christian Science before the public in this city as never before, and, of course, this is one of the main reasons for the maintenance of a Christian Science Reading Room.

"You may be interested to know that in comparing reports for three months in 1951 with those for the same period in 1950, we found that in 1951 we sold eighteen copies of Science and Health downstairs, while five were sold the previous year upstairs. Also, downstairs we had sixty-five borrowers, while upstairs we had but eight. There was a one-third increase in readers and purchasers, and the total sales for the period were almost doubled."

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