Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19
APPRAISERS OF BOOKS
SYSTEM OF DETERMINING RELA-
TIVE MERIT OF TONES.
Literature for the Library Central
Bureau for Benefit of
Librarians.

From the New York Tribune.
A. E. Bostwick, chief of the circulating
department of the New York Free Public
Library, believes that one of the future
steps in the coordination of library work
IN America will be central bureau for the
appraisal of literature, particularly new
books, for the benefit of librarians in gem
eral-perhaps all the librarians of the coun-
try. perhaps only those of a certain sec
ton, perhaps of certain libraries subscrib-
ing to the fund for maintenance
AT the state library school at Albany"
said Mr.. Bostwick, they have the stu
dents read large number of books. Blanks
are then provided, and the students fill
them out, the answers, when complete. coy-
ering just those points which the librarian
desires to know They set down no matters
of opinion, but only matters of fact. This
is to give the pupils practice in estimating
the value of books for library purposes
taxing account of the points that the IL
brarian should be informed upon before
buying. can see In this the germ of some
thing greater. central bureau, where COM
petent persons will prepare estimates of
DOCKS TO be sent out to librarians.
Estimate of Books.
1t Is manifestly impossible for the Ii
orarian to read all the books that are pub
ilshed. Different employees about the Ii
prary may read them, but the result is
naphazard. And yet every book should be
read from beginning to end before it is
placed on the shelves A librarian may
giance 1t hastily through or read several
e smapiIrs carefully, and pronounce the book
ouitapie' "nen, as matter of fact he has
missed something that is very obiection-
aoie lndeed This brings one to the first
point which should be covered in the esti-
thn hoo mn
state whether or not there are any SCENES
any features. discussions or language in
the book which render it unfit for the
sh or a public library. If there are
sne DOCK must be excluded, even though
from a literary point of view the booIr mo :,
De a great one and even though il NAV an
peal TO people of cultivated tastes and bieb
character. But in public library there
must be nothing which would nrovoLe
criticism as unsuitable for young folk
"A very important point for the appraiser
~ pass upon would be the personality of
the author as to fitness and previous pren-
a aaa,l Ior MS work. If there is a new
DOCK on volcanoes We want to know wbetb
er the author got his information from vol
canoes or from the encyclopedia If person
al Investigations have made him an author
10y Oh the subject, We would buy the book.
even though 1t were badly written and
OTHERWISE poor specimen of a book OF
course this would apply generally to book
other than novels. Still, there might he
mover which would not amount to much
as a story. but would present deIipbtfrI
pictures of life in Japan or India. for in
stance. If We knew the author had lived
In those countries and was Informed upon
those subjects, 1t would render the book
valuable for that reason alone
Radical Defects.
AS to style, that is largely matter of
opinion and as such would not be a proner
subject for appraisement. But if the writer
were guilty of grammatical errors or eouaI
ly fragrant sins, that would be a matter of
fact
Novels should be classified in the an
praisement as religious. sociological. his
torlcal, and SO on. If there were a particu-
lar demand for stories on the relation of
labor and capital. for instance, We might
buy new one. even if it were not SO very
well written. The interest of the matter TO
the reading public would compensate for
the lack in style.
This plan would save librarians a lot
or uncertainty and labor. and occasional
mistakes. The question then would be re-
duced to one of literary values. And as to
mat L don't think any hard fast rules can
be made. AS to the exclusion of a new book
for three years after its publication. that
would have deprived the Libraries of three
years reading of David Harum' or when
knighthood Was in Flower And while
those books have lived three years their
final position in literature is no more fixed
today than it was three years ago Their
position Is practically the same that it was
when they came out. Librarians feel that
many books are being put out in which the
writer's are not masters of their weapons
the English is not first-class.
Good English Not Extinct.
els there anything first-class compared to
the standard authors? Why, yes; as far
as the English goes. There are writer's to-
day who can use the English language Just
as well as any novelist has ever done. The
matter of their books may not be great
enough to make them live, but the STYLE is
firSt-claSS
Broadly speaking. it is only these books
written in thoroughly good. pure English,
which should be put in the library But to
pass upon all the new books with this in
view is matter requiring much time and
critical judgment 1t can't be done by rule
There are certain authors whom We know
it is safe to buy without reading Every
thing written by Mr.. Howells. Mr.. James.
Mr.. Gable and other authors who have dem
onstrated that they always produce works
OF certain grade is purchased. new
author has got to prove his right to be
placed on that honorable list. Over at the
Brooklyn library they have made a rule not
to buy the first book of any author until
the expiration of a year. L wouldn't do
that. l do not believe any ironcad rule
can be probably made with relation to
style. Each book must have it's individual
judgment. But the other points L have
mentioned could be profitably appraised
The points the librarian wants to know
about new book are either not covered at
all in the book reviews, or he has to wade
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