The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-09

JERSEY CITY AHEAD
More Books Read in the Free
Library Here Than in
.aisa Newark.
POLICY IN MANAGEMENT
Problem Discussed as to Relative
Merits Of Essex and Hudson
Systems.
POLICY IN MANAGEMENT

In the selection of books for a public
library how much fictiot, is 1t wise to
put upon the shelves, and of what
kind? should the prospective patrons or
the institution be given facilities for be-
coming ~conversant with all sorts o.
stories. or should the librarian and the
trustees, directors, managers or what
ever they be. be allowed TO restrict the
public's reading in this regard, and If SO
in what way? In other words, where
shall the line be drawn?
These questions are part and parcel or
q big problem, concerning which there
are many widely diverse opinions.
Among librarians and the people directly
interested in libraries the problem is by
far the greatest with which they have
to deal. 1t is to them what the tariff
question is to politicians, and it in some
ways has as vital a bearing upon the fu-
ture of this country as that well worn
theme of duties. taxes, etc. A surpris-
ingly large proportion OF the people are
now readers and the percentage is rap
idly increasing. The modern newspaper
has such a tremendous bearing upon the
lives and fortunes of US all, and it enters
so completely into our relations with our
fellow beings. that few. no matter ON
" AANAt az IAS4 4 AZ koAog ~ tE1
pense with it. They must read it, once a
week. twice a week or every Gay. and
the moment they arrive at this stage
the possibility of their coming ultin ately
to read Something else has arisen.
THE MAGAZINE AND NOVEL.
The next step is the magazine or novel,
sometimes one comes first, sometimes the
other. and very frequently both. If it
is the magazine in nine cases out of ten
it is the short stories in that magazine
that they read. They look at the pic
lures in the other articles, but are more
than likely to let the subject matter
pass unless the pictures stimulate them
to explore the printed page, which, in
these days. when pictures are made of
everything on the earth, above the earth
and in the waters under the Garth, are
strewn broadcast in bewildering confus-
ion. happens less frequently than many
people imagine. They may get into the
habit of reading the serials, and in that
manner find their way to the novel in
book form. as they may fasten upon the
novel early in their MISUNDERSTANDING
days. 1t really matters little how they
arrive at the novel, they are pretty GER
when they do it makes all the difference
n the world what sort OF a novel it is
tnat tley frSt hasten upon.
THE FIRST NOVEL.
The chances are that they are
going to get that first novel
from a free public library because
novel they can purchase will cost them
I'VE cents. whereas for two cents some
times. and very often for nothing. they
can come into temporary possession Of
all the novels they can read in a life
time. So 1t falls out that the newspaper
TEACHES these people to desire some other
I rnQ n Or N n GA 1Trln ~ ~ ~
for something a little more complicated,
and, thus educated, the persons applies
to the library for his higher education,
institution begins. The library may
work wonders for men and women for
good or for the reverse. OF course, as
Libraries in the "Can," the individual is
finally responsible for what he gets out
OF a library; The institution cannot
be of genuine benefit to them; it can
only show the a In doing this last,
however, is where its true responsibility
tive than that which is not SO good; it
can keep the worst from the hands and
minds Of it's patrons to a great degree. if
it refuses to allow 1t upon it's shelves.
WHAT Do THEY READ?
Now. all people 90 not come to novel
reading like the. class described above,
greatest good can be done. This Is the
class from winch the Sell-maQe men ana
women 50 often come. who in the old
days got but two or three winters in the
district school and who nowadays rarely
pass the fourth grade primary or the
germ of great IDEAS within them which
only need the proper atmosphere in
whistler Whaeh to ths sl0I haVe a she Element ssaa fruit If
greatness within them or not, in one
sense it does not matter: They should
| be given the best there IS and Il they
falter they should be guided and helped.
From their ceaseless struggle against
poverty their thirsts have become sharp
detect the true and the false. They VIII
begin by reading for light amusement
very probably, but they may be brought
better amusement in a better class of
literature han that on which they be
gan. and then they VIII learn that i Is
Serious qualification Of, a longing for
Something better. which at times they
| have felt but scarcely knew how to
rratify. And It is to this class that the
library has to address itself with par
ticular force. especially In a large manu-
fa Sta,d gs ei ~ ~, AS Of FOR those 1ne oeR Who ctI Knew
what sound and valuable fiction IS but
through mental laziness or Tor some
\ moi waste its sympathies on, for such
neople have no one to blame but them,
selves Il they never find out what good
llte GrRpTicT Ts;illy + TRASHY NOVELS.
Thdfe are, broadly speaking, two ways
in which a library may approach the
working class. 1t may refuse them the
light or trashy novel or i. may give them
| ali of it they wish. The libraries of New
ark and of jersey City represent fairly
well these two methods. In the Newark
institution the greatest care IS taken TO
keep from the shelves all, fiction which
does not possess recognized merit, winch
does not have something within its pages
which is sound and helpful. In Jersey
| city they have all of the best. but besides
fhey have scores of books which would
never be admitted here-much of that
| cheau sort If literature which end to
beWittle and hewilder humble folk and
TO cause to arise on them an irritating
discomfort for their lot in life. If it was
a healthy observation-disclosures the sort
which arouses one to become truly better
by developing the mind-then all would
Be well. Bst it is not so. A young girl,
who by force of circumstances finds 1t me-
aessary to earn her livelihood by work
= z in a factory, falls in with a kind of a
story book full Of unreality. which tells
Of the fortunes of some beautiful hero
line, who, like herself, had to work in a
factory, but whose natural brilliancy,
~loveableness etc. attracts the affection
Of the handsome son of the millionaire
mill owner, who marries her, and they
live happy ever after. The effect of such
4 story can easily he discerned. The girl
is kept In q sort of mild delirium while
she reads the book. and no sooner has
she devolsred 1t than she seizas upon an
other. After a while. tiring OF the sense
less tales: she finds q great and growing