Entering a Library on Shabbat

Question

Is it permitted to enter a public library on Shabbat? It is a place where money is usually not exchanged and books are only borrowed or read within the library.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    My personal feeling is that there might be a problem with something called “Marit Ayin” (doing something that is permissible on Shabbat but that looks forbidden). No one knows that you only went into the library to read a book there, and people may come to the mistaken assumption that you either checked out books on Shabbat (which would be forbidden) or that you returned books on Shabbat (which would be equally forbidden to do).

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team