Students Criticize Shortened Hours For Fogg Library

Students and faculty members yesterday protested the early closing hours of Fogg Art Museum's library. This fall, for the first time in 30 years, the library closes at 5 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

Severe financial difficulties are responsible for the move, John P. Coolidge, associate professor of Fine Arts and Director of the Museum, countered yesterday. During the 1951 to '52 academic year, the Museum incurred a deficit of about $21,000, making a ten percent budget cut imperative, he added.

There is still a possibility, however, of extended library hours during the midterm exam period. "If funds are available," Fogg Librarian Miss Louise Lucas said, "we hope we can make some adjustment and keep the library open until 10 p.m."

Practically all the Fine Arts courses require studying photographs and pictures kept only in Fogg. Richard S. Field '53 summed up the student view: "The early closing is terrible for people who can only study there at night because they have jobs or athletics in the afternoon."

All the Fine Arts professors contacted yesterday strongly regretted the move; most agreed with Charles L. Kuhn, Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts, who philosophically commented, "It's just a matter of the almighty dollar . . ."

Suggesting that the museum guards be reduced and the galleries be closed, Benjamin Rowland, professor of Fine Arts, said, "The museum supposedly exists for the courses . . . I think we should care much more about the students than the public."

Coolidge replied that closing galleries would save little, since the building still has to be maintained and Fogg employs only two guards. He noted the "public" contributes $25,000 annually to the museum's upkeep.

Fogg's total budget currently runs about $200,000 a year. Of this sum $130,- 000 comes from endowments, $45,000 from current earnings, and $25,000 from gifts. The museum has been running at a loss since 1945 and using a reserve fund, accumulated during the war, to foot the deficit. The fund has now been completely exhausted.

To effect the necessary ten percent cut, Coolidge last July slashed $16,500 from salaries and $5,500 from general expenses. The wage cuts were made on a departmental basis; the library department decided to reduce their night staff.

Terming the economies "purely temporary," Coolidge explained that only easily-replaceable staff members would be dismissed. In 1950 to '51 wages and salaries accounted for $139,000 and retirement funds and social security funds another $7,000 of the $224,000 budget, so there is little leeway for other economies besides reducing the exhibitions.

Fogg's operational expenses have spiraled constantly; in 1909 the cost was $5,420, mounting to the pre-war peak of $142,138 in 1940