, 1875-06-13

CLASSIFICATION OF CIRCULATION.
It has teen stated in one or more o. tho spubhe
If books, that tho qalty Of the reading dispensed at
THIS library inferior ani islon that Of sn ar ill.,
stitul;ons. that this remark has been re-
eated to tho Injury tne library in the minds Of Of
cia al other persons vim its friends but have
little no knowledge OF tie 3lcss OF the case Ine
statement Is tr:'c t.a; has rown out Of the cir
cunla.71cc that tic library supplied With popular
1nt3 entertaining 'r,oks III the form of psuee tc.
Gua juveniles. Bat boe1 OF eren questionable
uornsjty is allowed 20 upon thu Shelves In no in
B4ee ae my attention been called to the presence Ct
such a bocE. II works Q. nr1icn and books for the
gea objection would lie Ii. hrs. to complain. This
is public library, supported :y public taxation, xnd
every person in the community, howtves humbte OF
lacking in literary cultlre has right to be supplied
with books a!aIed to his tEste and mental capncity.
The Of readers net scholars, and have little
Of what passes the worl literary culture hence
they read largely works OF The imagination and the
lighter eass of literature, AZ ere beneited thereby.
To deprive the Of such books to exclude them from
In my lrat annual report had occasion to discuss
this subject. TIE views there expressed were based
experience and constant observation OF facts,
extending over period Of more ta-n twenty-five
years, aud they need not be rc7cated here. will,
however, quote sssage from tts last report OF the
Examining Committee Of TIC Boston Public Library.
ot which III. William W. G7eenough, the President OF
the Trus:eoa, wae then Chairman:
''IHE LAIN OBJECT
Of cur library Is Supply the public ut large. Of
cyery Crude wth sucn bouks aa ii desires, and with
t.- reservation that aniteetly bad or vicious books
are excluded. This programme is well sried out;
books that arc asked for, If EnobjecEonable the
score Of immortality, uS,ally obtainc aud if HE
demand for ANY particular book exceed the supply.
&C copies pie o arc eo at and 40 10 apat f neea M
library. This policy is pursued in accordance with
the conviction that novei-reading, Or 1ny Kind ef
than no reading all n.ll the. books, Of the
ghtext order, e1cr. upon those who can appreciate
no hishsr Kind Of literature, certain educational
Influence, which tends ID most case to better their
mental condition It mus: not be forgotten that with
regard to !srge r.rt q the fEequentors Of the
Library the alternative i. not whether they shal read
books OF high OF q low grade, but whether they
shall read books Of amusing fiction. or Lot read n ALL
Your COMMITTEE, On consideration OF taeee facto, h.s
concluded not to deEr2catc the encouragement OF
poycl-readng but it. nevertheless grecta with pleasure
every sign Of improvement in tae public tas:c' r.
In :he sams report, Mr. wnsor, the Superintendent,
II do not sha7e the opinions held BY many, Who in
dulge il wholesale denunci,tion Of tho reading Of
novels After several sears' otterVa:ion an fully
cognizant OF the fact tina: the ceasure Of fiction IL
good deal ! matter OF clan fee:ins-eiucancnauy
speaking. looks OF grade held to 10 Tcuelcss
by critics Of higher one, who do not appreciate the
fart that lower grades Of readers should be supplied
with mental Eabuuu Suited to their powers q assiti-
lation. The faure to allow for this difference In
readers is, think, at tho bottom OF tho n,spy uncotl
sdered axeeroaa regarding the character OF ccctin
WRITER'S md The literary necessities OF corresponding
classes Of readers" r. 27.l
n institution in the country has been under
CoSa1DERATE AND CONSERVATIVE MASAoEMEST
tin the Boston PuhHc ltrlrF, :EA tuts oltUiouSaEe
the outgrowth of its twenty.wo Years Of experience
An accurate classification has been kept OF al the
books which have been or.wa from library during
the yoar and the stisties show that the quality
OF the reading been substantially tar that
Of other public libraries, with tendency toward
smaller percentage in tho reading OF light literature.
An arrangement is prcvf1eI ty which tho cassidca-
tion Of each book eosa out Is noted. The work
of each day recorded and The cent IF each casst
hcztiou il asceetained- Thee combined into
weekly, monthly and yearly averages Below the
results In order to indicate tho taFte nf the readers
shorter intervals th"n entire year. the statistics,
indicated by per cent, given in periods Of six
months each together with the Ryerago for the ycsr