The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-04
The American Public Library.


Unquestionably the education of the great
majority of cultivated Americans has been
gained not so much through the schools as
through miscellaneous reading. This is
especially likely to be true CT those past
middle life. THIS reading has come to stu
dents in various ways-:hrougn the magl-
zines and newspapers. through private
book collections, ard through public end
school libraries. Tie latter sg5ncy is per-
haps the most powerful. In some cites the
good eject which the library might have is
neutralzed by the fact that the readers are
perfectly unguiGed. ard generally young.
and that in seeking acquaintance with good
literature they wade through an amazing
amount of trash. The popularity Of Ma: lie
Corelli. Bertha NJ. Clay, Laura Jean Lib
hey. and THE Duchess proves that trash
is profitable, but there still remains ques-
ton whether it would be as profitable or as
widely read as it is were the readers in
troduced to really good novels. Too often
the people who try to direct the reading
of young girls go at it In the wrong way.
They take the girls trashy story book
or a history. or novel like Daniel De-
ronda,'' or Vanity Fair" and expect her
TO appreciate that. But there are books
which have in them precisely the qualities
that young women like in these vapid emo
tional connections. and are still coed lit
erature. Most children instinctively APP
preciate good literature. and prefer the
pf. Na ~ IL nj Ii
beauty of classic wonder stories to modern
nonsense. There is no reason why the
taste which is good at five years Of age
should be vicious at fifteen.
The library, then. under proper guild
ance, would be the best means of making
the people of the community acquainted
with good literature. The trouble with
most libraries in the cities is that they are
so large that the unguided reader does no.
know where to go. II seems as IL some way
might be found to reach the book lovers in
small towns and villages, and guide the
reading OF those in the cities.
Most people have heard Of Nudes
library in England, the vast collection OF
books which. on the payment of certain
sum each year, is free to the great British
public, and enables country folk to get
hold OF the last new novel without waiting
till the rush is over. 1t seems as if some
such enterprise might be practicable in
this country. II boxes Of books, packed
in accordance with carefully prepared
lists, could be sent to each country town
in which there was a book club. and re-
turned after they had been read, i, would
make large public library for the village
unnecessary. Every town and village
ought to have a reference library-that is
evident; but it is lot at all necessary that
every little hamlet should have large
collection of the new novels in the seasons
output. which will be forgotten after
year or two. Why would it not be profitable
for some great book firm to establish
modified Nudes Library? Under such u
system any town in which certain num-
Der of people-say five-wished to sub
scribe, would be entitled to box Of
books each week. Each club should have
a catalogue of all books available; and
each member should put down OF list
the volumes desired for the current week.
sending of duplicate copies. for if every
body in a whole State happened to want
to read David Harum'' the same week
the enterprise might not be profitable.
After the books were read they would be
exchanged for others. The club could in
the mean time form the nucleus of
library. and a small fund could be kept
on hand for the purchase Of a book for
this library whenever a majority should
agree that it was desirable. In this way
the firm conducting the library would
probably increase its book trade consider
ably. There should, of course, be a de-
pcsit to cover possible loss of volumes in
transit. Such plan might result in profit
to the bookseller. education to the people.
and pleasure to many lonely folk who live
far from libraries and society.