New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-07
INITIATING LIBRARY BOOKS.
LIBRARIANS FIND 1T EVEN MORE ANNOY
ING THAN STEALING.


II 4, severe trial OF the patience OF librarian
when he find. that more Of the books under
his care have been stolen; not, rule. because
Of the actual value OF the books. although IT some
times happens that and costly works are
made away with but because OF the meanness OF
the thief and the fact that by his act he de-
prives scores OF other people OF the opportunity
Of reading the book which has been taken. But II
possible. It is still more annoying for the Gus
todjan OF a library to discover that a book ha 8
been mutilated. either by the removal Of plate.
the tearing out Of n leaf two. deliberate in
jury without any possibility OF advantage Fortu-
nately. the vandals who prey library books In
this evil fashion are few in number although It IS
possible for them TO carry on their operations
without great danger Of detection. Especially IS
this the in a public library where there are
often large numbers Of readers
Sometimes It may happen, when book has
been mutila;ed. that the fact may not be discov-
cred for weeks months but I'm the OF books
often in request the discovery would be made
er. But pick out the culprt and fix the crime
on him Enthusiastically is difficult matter-even
more difficult than 10 trace the theft OF a library
book. To do this It might be necessary TO keep
a detective on watch for months, and library au-
thorities 90 no; like 10 subject all their readers
most of whom above suspicion. TO espionage.
although OF course the readers would have no
idea that they were being watched. Besides. the
expense Of doing this is considerable. and out of
all proportion TO the actual damage sustained by
the mutilation OF books.
People IN this city have not forgotten the recent
case in which the theft OF a number Of books from
the New-York Public Library was traced to a
pupil in the Boys High School who. when ar
rested and taken to court. asserted that he was
too poor 10 buy the books, which he needed in
order to pursue HIS studies, and that he intended
20 return them when through using them. An at
tempt was made to grouse public sympathy on
this account, and even the Magistrate before whom
the boy was arraigned used all his powers OF per-
suasion 10 induce the library people 10 'let up
the boy. The boy was however. held for trial.
and when he pleaded guilty at the Special Sessions
the Court refused 10 suspend sentence but inflicted
fine Of So. which was promptly paid. Such a
lesson IS not likely TO be lost other readers at
the Public Library who may be inclined to pilfer
II is an Interesting circumstance. however. that
since that incident another OF the High School
boys has yielded 20 the temptation to mutila;e
one OF the library books and clearly with no good
purpose IN view. The hook from which he tore
half dozen pages was cheap copy Of a transit
ton of Horace. costing not more than - cents. and
the circumstantial evidence o show that he
wished use the English version Crib IN
connection with his Latin lessons. There Is a Law
books. and II tho cup-it I'm ihis had been de-
tected IL is scarcely likely that any sympathy
would have been aroused for him. in view Of the
fact that he not only .nalciously ruined a book
but also did so with purpose clearly no; moral
IN view.
Cases Of nu;ila,ion of books are not frequent in
institution like the Public Library IN this city
but they are most annoying and there would be
hearty approval from the community If a man or
boy guilty OF such contemplate work should be
detected and adequately punished.