The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-31
THE FREE LIBRARIES.

They Stimulate the sale of Books
EveryWhars.
New YORK, March 29.-Andrew Carne-
gie's generous gift for the establishment of
free libraries has raised the question among
publishers and book buyers a. to the effect
on the book trade generally Of public libra
ries in the United States. In order to ascer-
tain how the leading publishing houses re-
garded the subject. visit was paid to
several Of the best known New York pub
lishers.
Robert Underwood johnson of the Cen
tury Company spoke unreserve1ly on the
subject. Being asked what effect was pro-
duced on the company's business through
the opening of large public free libraries,
such as that contemplated by Mr.. Carnegie,
he said:
Goa general principles we are confident
that the establishment Of free libraries tends
to increase the sale of books by stimulating
the literary tastes Of the general reader just
as the recognition of an international copy
right law will stimulate the production of
literature. Probably few men who ever
lived were prevented from writing a book
by the fact that somebody else had written
another. On the otaer hand, many mans
llLGEdIY lulbLlJ HAS DceI I0NBtAlSI W lin DT
the work Of others.
ut must be borne in mind that the sys-
tenn of supplying books to consuUers is
quite different in Amarica and in L gland.
Over there t O edition of the book is largely
regulated by the number of copies 10 be
ia len to be taken by Nudes library, the
great circulating medium for British
readers. Ia England the people
depend largely upon tho libraries
xrl.a oil h..
United Kingdom. This undoubtedly pre-
vents the English from becoming
a book-buying nation. it isn't generally
known that this is the reason why books are
printed there in three and four volumes tnGt
would appear in this country in a single
volume This is to permit the d fereat
members Of a family to read the book at the
same time, so that it may be more quickly
returned to the library.
"It is often superficially urged against
fuller recognition Of the rights Of authors
that England IS q country of dear books.
Ths is certainly the case; but IL is not due
to the copyright laws, but to the reading
habits Of the people, England, as a matter
Of fact, has probably a cheaper use of
books than any other country in the world.
The library system viii probably never
have any such hold in a large country hike
our own as it has in compact country like
Great Britain.
THE relations 0f the business Of the book
publisher in the United States to the library
system would be very difficult to determine.
AS far the Century Company isconcerned,
We have few data on the subject; but
think it will be found that American pub
lisher5 regard the library system as a great
ally, and not as a foe to their prosperity.
Tne chief foe to the publication OF books
which will be bought, praised and kept
by the peJplc--a STATE Of affairs
much TO DO desired--is ths lack Of
stability in the book trade. duo to the
want Of an international copyright law.
There are many towns in the country in
which, twenty years ago, there was a local
bookseller whose store was the center Of
literary ca!ture for the town, and who was.
In fact, next to tho minister and school
teacher, the most ciyilizlng genius Ia the
community. do was tho guide, phil
losJpher and friend Of the settle
meut. Go into the same town now.
aud you Will probably 6ad thai
the energies of tho bookseller have been
largely ab5Ol bei a. the salo VI wcli-paper
and knick-kgacgg, while tne CON Dlunity
has f0uEd its pufgeyar Of Her atuIe 10 a
half edueatei, ignorant nsasboy, who
keeps all the cheap piratei edit .ons ~ foreign
BOOKS and sells them mostly b. their titles
- sort of traln-b0y literature. ia fHct.
Certainly this system ~ graa. fle b lbs
purchase ~ books These paper
novels are bought and read and thrown
away, a1Q the lhst net D.
probably tfe bast feature ~ fhe transsclon.
Bar acre they replaced ~ good Aulerleea
literature, written ~ Americaus ana
hegins Amegicap i3eas, epa printed ~