The times., 1901-05-08
RenI Circulating Library

AS most book lovers Of Washington
are aware. there has been within the
last year a movement toward the es-
tabliskment in this country Of some
thing ike the famous Nude travelling
library in England. Il is proposed that
from a central Office. located probably
in New York al the new books shall
be sent to patrons at sub-stations
throughout the country, at the rate Of
one a week if desired. The sub-stations
as now arranged include all the large
cities and numerous small cities and
towns in the East and the larger cities
of the West. The chances are that most
OF the custom Of this travelling library
VIII be among the dwellers in small
towns or villages. which have no circu-
lating library. The result viii probably
be to increase the sale OF good books
fn these towns, and for that reason
the enterprise has a great advantage
over local booksellers and Libraries,
since publishers VIII be glad to offer
reduced rates for the advertisement
which the circulation Of their books
viii give them For instance. if there
the town Of MusqUash and one Of the
subscribers resds David Harum," the
other nine viii also want the book, and
they are likely to want it at once,
hence ten copies viii be needed to
supply the public Of that town, in place
OF the one which would serve if the
medium Of circulation were the town
library. Moreover. there may be ten
more people in the town who. when
they see the book in the hands Of their
neighbors. viii buy il. because they
want IL, though they do not subscribe
to the library. The publisher can there
fore afford 10 give the travelling library
corporation, which may be the means
Of selling twenty copies of one book
in a town, advantages over the town
library, which buys one copy Of the
book, or the local bookseller. who may
perhaps sell I'VE copies. It viii be an
other obstacle in the path, already
thorny and hard, Of the man who has
been in the bookseIling business all his
life, and is still a retailer The de-
partment stores have already crowded
him out in many places, aud the travel
ing library VIII do more in that direc-
tion, for il viii have no rent to pay,
no clerks 10 hire. and no expenses ex-
ceDt those Of its big central and branch
houses and its express hire.
From the point Of view Of the book
lover. however the innovation is a good
one There has been for the last fifty
years a steady movement toward max
ing good literature plentiful and cheap
and accessible in this country At pres
ent the quantity IS perhaps more il
evidence than the quality. It is not at
all hard TO get something to read; but
a good deal of what is offered is trash
It is important 70 educate the people
along such lines that they viii desire !
and demand good reading; and the
travelling library viii do this. The de-
partment stores take up the last new
book and sell II cheaply. whether il be
good or bad, II the price is somewhere !
in the neighbOrhood Of a dollar; but
they do not touch the valuable scieu-
tinc, biographical. and esthetic litera-
ture which runs higher in price ana |
does not appeal to large public Such |
books as the recent biography OF Hux- |
ley. for example, can only be bought of |
a regular bookseller, and re does not
advertise them because he has few Gus
toners. The travelling library, however.
having patrons all over the country
who would read and enjoy the book |
since they may obtain 1t without pay
ing any extra charge, will advertise IL, |
and thus increase its popularity and its |
sale. il viii pay the travelling library |
to deal in this sort Of literature. for |