The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19
in THE LITERARY FIELD
sEMI-HuMoRoUs DISCUSSION OF THE
BENEFITS OF LIBRARIES.
The Question of Editing an Authors
work--A Good Word for Published
Books-yariOus Notes.

Mr.. Andrew Lang has been writing In
the Morning Post concerning circulating
libraries says W. l.. Alden, in London
letter. and he inelines TO the opinion that
they are chiefly means for the dissemina-
ton Of second and third rate novels and
are therefore the enemies of literature. He
does not say this in so many words, but
IN his own pleasant way he conveys the
impression that the circulating library is
nuisance.
Every little while some one sagely sug-
gests that IL is possible that circulating
libraries may have an injurious effect on
the sale of books and that the author
would be more prosperous than he is If
there were no circulating libraries. How
there can be any possible doubt as 10 the
matter would be unintelligible were it not
that we know of many intelligent men who
believe that protection makes country
prosperous The sale Of. books. like the
sale OF potatoes, is governed by the law
of supply and demand II some agricul-
tural Carnegie were to establish all over
England free potato circulating stores,
would IL not AFFECT the sale of potatoes?
Who would care to buy his potatoes at the
grocer's or from the farmer If he could
negie free-potato stores? Every one will
admit that were potatoes to be had for the
asking the sale Of potatoes would prac-
ticaIIy cease. The same rule must hold
good in the case OF books. with certain
exceptions. There are books which a man
wants TO have always at hand for refer
ence, and these he would buy rather than
take the trouble OF sending TO a library
for them every time he might have coca
IL a. -. O..N Co. q ha cot
majority of books especially novels, why
should one buy them when they can be
had for nothing from the free Carnegie
library? If I want to read Mr. Rider Hag-
CARDS last bOok-and as a matter OF fact
do want to read it-why should i pay 8
shillings for IL when I get IL from
library? IL is not a book which / need
for purposes OF reference. i need IL only
Tor amusement, and can renew that
amusement every time / take IL out of the
library. To doubt that the Libraries in
juriously affect the sale of novels is to
doubt the fundamental principles of politi-
cal economy. When a new novel is pub
lished that is worth reading or that Is
written by Miss Corelli or Mr. Hall Game
there Is at once a great demand for IL at
the libraries. The people who take it from
the libraries naturally do not buy il after
ward, whereas were there no libraries at
least a very large proportion of them
would buy the book as the only means of
making its acquaintance.
Furthermore. according to Mr.. Lang, the
circulating libraries feed the taste for poor
novels as well as good ones, and thus lessen
the sale OF books that ought to be read.
thus In every way the circulating library
Is objectionable. except for those who have
pecuniary interest in ii. Abolish the cir
culating library and the sales of novels by
popular authors would undoubtedly be
greatly increased. while the present tend
ency among the patrons of libraries to read
nothing but novels would be lessened
Poor Mr.. Carnegie undoubtedly means
well, but he ought to be convinced by Mr.
Lang, or some one else, that by establish
Ing free libraries he Is running authors and
fostering a taste for poor novels to the
exclusion OF a taste for good books. have
against him the personal complaint that he
and other founders of libraries have cor
rupted me- L no longer dream of buying
books that can obtain from the library
and, or course. every time / take book
from library, instead of buying a COPY at
the bookshop, am depriving the author of
his just reward. This is what the library
system has brought me TO. I offer no ex-
cuse, but simply say that had IL not been
Tor the pestilent founders and managers of
libraries might still have been in the habit
or buying books and thereby contributing
10 the support of deserving authors who are
now sitting with their starving wives and
children on the stony steps OF the libraries
and begging crust of those who enter to
draw out books that they never buy