When the town library loses its funding for evening staff, three retired teachers decide to keep it open anyway. They call themselves the Night Readers and take turns sitting by the door.
镇图书馆因为经费不足，晚上请不起工作人员，三位退休教师决定照样让它开着。他们自称“夜间读者”，轮流坐在门口。
At first, only one or two people come. A nurse stops by after her shift. A boy studies for an exam because his home is noisy. The teachers make tea in a kettle brought from home.
起初只有一两个人来。一位护士下班后顺路进来。一个男孩因为家里太吵，来这里复习考试。老师们用从家里带来的水壶烧茶。
One night, a man asks whether they are allowed to do this. The oldest teacher, Mrs. Vale, says, “We are not locking the door. Reading is not a crime.”
一天晚上，一个男人问他们有没有权利这样做。最年长的老师维尔太太说：“我们又没有锁门。读书不是罪。”
He leaves and returns an hour later with a box of books from his attic. “Then I should help,” he says. Others begin to donate shelves, lamps, and time.
他离开了，一小时后却抱着一箱阁楼上的书回来。“那我应该帮点忙，”他说。其他人也开始捐书架、台灯和时间。
By winter, the library is open four evenings a week. No one asks whether it is official. People simply come, turn on the lights, and read.
到了冬天，图书馆每周开放四个晚上。没人再问这算不算正式。人们只是走进来，打开灯，然后读书。