I was jogging past the main branch of the Chicago Public Library the other day, and noticed a paper taped to the door reading, in its entirety (IIRC): The Chicago Public Library will be closed Sunday 4/16/06.
My first thought was, “Hmm. Wonder why they are closing? Maybe some construction or maintenance?”
Of course, having been raised Catholic, living in a strongly Catholic/christian area, and with many family who still practice christianity and celebrate Easter, it was only a matter of seconds before I realized that Sunday was Easter. Heck, even the pagan Dinsdale household dyes the occasional egg and nibbles the occasional chocolate bunny.
But seeing the sign on the door, 4/16 meant nothing to me, and momentarily confused me. I wouldn’t have had the same confusion had the sign said 12/25 or 7/4. But I seem to recall having seen notices that libraries would be closed on specific Mondays “due to President’s, MLK, Memorial, etc. day.”
Now, I don’t really desire to debate whether or not the public library should close on Easter Sunday. My question is, since they have chosen to close on Easter Sunday, shouldn’t they acknowledge that on their posted notices?
(I readily acknowledge that this is not a huge issue, and perhaps more of an IMHO than a debate.)
I know it seems obvious why they’re closed that day, (seems that way to me as well), but are you sure that it’s because of easter that they’re closed? I mean, yes they are closed on 4/16 and 4/16 is also easter but does that neccesarily mean that’s the reason?
My library says “Closed for Easter”, too davenportavenger. My guess is that it’s some cowardly Chicago librarian or civil servant who is afraid of a lawsuit. It’s one thing to say “Closed for Dec 25” since everyone knows Dec 25 is Christmas, but Easter is a moving target.
Check to see if the say “Closed for Labor Day” or “Closed for Memorial Day”, etc. If they don’t, then maybe it’s just their policy not to announce the specific holiday. But I’d bet dollars to donuts they do announce the non-religious holidays. We are getting a tad oversensitive about that issue, but then we’re getting a tab oversensitive about being a tad oversensitive about that issue, too!
Our library always posts both: “We will be closed on 4/16 for Easter.” Except I just made that up, because our library is never open on Sundays; there’s not enough money and we’re just grateful to have Mondays now. As a general principle, however, that’s what they do.
The notices were simple black print on 8x11 sheets of white paper. Apparently done on someone’s PC. Not some elaborately produced things. So it may have come down to an individual staffer - whatever the motivation for the specific phrasing they chose.
Anyone from elsewhere in Chicago able to say if this is consistent within this one system?
I guess what bugged me was my thought that if anyone should provide complete and unambiguous info, I’d hope it to be the library.
Your libraries usually are open on Sundays? Lucky you! New York and New Jersey libraries are always closed on Sundays, and in New Jersey, they close all damn weekend during the summer.
Hmm - the CPL website does not include Easter in it’s list of closings. http://www.chipublib.org/001libraries/001libraries.html
And the page on the main branch doesn’t mention Sunday’s closing. http://www.chipublib.org/001hwlc/001hwlc.html#hours
Curiouser and curiouser.
Exactly what IS going to be going on down there the day after next?
And PLEASE don’t suggest that I call them, as I far prefer conjecturing from a position of abject ignorance!
In my experience, Easter and Christmas are the two days in the US that you cannot count on places being open. Along the lines of, if you are driving home late on Easter evening, you may have a harder time than usual finding an open gas station. Pretty much the only 2 days some businesses such as fastfood restaurants and convenience stores might close.
If the supermarket is open, it will have the most restricted hours of the year.
And the vast majority of places that aren’t quite as 24/7 as gas, McD’s, 7/11, will pretty definitely be closed.
Totally unscientific on my part, but for some reason I have developed the impression that Easter and X-mas have slightly more closings than T-giving.
But I agree, T-giving is certainly no lower than a close 3d.
Is it at all odd that 2 of the 3 most pervasive holidays in the US - at least in terms of employees having off and services being unavailable, are Easter and X-mas instead of - say - T-giving and 4th of July?
I don’t think so: the US has a strongly Christian tradition, culturally speaking, and those are the two biggest Protestant holidays. (I understand that at least some Catholics consider Good Friday to be more significant). As we transition into a more secular culture, it makes sense that the secular analogs of these holidays would continue to be celebrated.
