The sun., 1903-12-13
BOOKS AT ELECTION TIME.
STUDY NOT THE THING THAT
SWAPS THE VOTERS.
Evidences From the New York Public
Libraries on This Point-Can't Even
Compete Altogether with the outdoor
Attractions Of . Political Canvass.

a hrlpI report WIS edCn DTdIlCI
Of the New York Public Library regarding
the effect of the political campaign on
the cir ulation of the books. These reports
are summarized below. Wills they may
moi in some respects be regarded as en-
couraging from the standpoint OF the ideal,
they are not devoid Of interest.
IN the first place. they do not as rule
show any increased reading in civics and
politics just before election time. Politics
sppears to stimulate the emotions rather
than the intellect
From the Riverside branch comes the
report that "there has been no noticeable
demand for books on city government,
elections and the like-the newspapers
probably supplying such Deeds.' At
several branches. such az East Broadway
and Bond street, where the demand for
books on civics Ia relatively great, 1t is a
steady demand and no particular increase
is noticed at election time. The librarian
at the Muhlenberg branch, in West Twenty
third street, reports:
We had one call for history OF de-
mocracy, and another call for something
on municipal reform. When the assistant
ventur d to ask II the latter was wanted
for reference in regard to the coming cleo
ton. she was told that it was wanted for
questions discussed in woman's club
The librarian in charge of the Blooming
dale branch, in West 1O0th street, reports
During the two weeks preceding the
recent election we circulated at this branch
only seven books on democracy, const-
tllonal and political history. This number
is below rather than above the average
The Fifty-ninth street branch SAYS that
hooks on municipal government are not
in demand at election times. They are
used almost exclusively by students in the
schools and colleges and others preparing
for civil service examinations. Our Fight
with Tammany.' by Parkhurst. being sen
sational, has been called for and is now in
circulation Tolman's 'Municipa Reform
Movements circulated six times in 1895.
once in 1895 and once in 1893, but not once
since that date. The reading room at
tendance does not seem to have been af-
fected in any way, though a few reference
readers asked for the election laws"
One of the exceptions to the rule is the
Avenue C branch, which reported an un-
usual demand for books on civil govern
mcnt by school children just after election.
This probably points to school influence
COMPOSITIONS or topics assigned for dis
c,ssion. The same thing is more def
nitely indicated by a report, from the
Bruce branch, Of small boy who wanted a
comprehensive article on the political
situation and told the assistants with
acorn that he was mot writing COM
position, but an essay
Likewise at the Ottendorfer branch
II Ia reported that a few days after cleo
ton there was a great demand in the chill
drens room for books telling Of the duties
of the Mayor and Comptroller. At Jack
son Square, too, there has been a post
election demand among the school ohil-
dren for books on city government. The
manager of this branch says:
"One little girl came in on Saturday
evening and asked for book on politics,
and when questioned her as to the use
she would make Of ID she explained that
she had to hand in q oomposition on Mon
day telling all about the Mayor and the
government OF the city. l gave her For
man's First Lessons in Civics' and told
her to get some member OF her family to
help her in finding out from the book just
what she wanted to know. II she followed
nv advice neither she nor her relatives
found Sunday day Of rest"
From some branches an increase in
demand for the newspapers just before
election is reported. From the Washington
Heights branch comes the report that
.books on municipal government and civics
were asked for frequently, and history of
Tammany and one Of party politics were
even reserved. The books needed for
debate were also on allied subjects
At Yorkville, in spite Of q general decrease
In reading, there were frequent calls for
books on civics just before election and
also requests for information on such topics
as How we elect our city officials, AOur
system of voting" and the history Of Tam
many Hall. This branch also reports
several calls for the Life of G. B. Mcclellan '
At the Aguilar branch on 10th street.
although the librarian reports an absence
Of excitement, owing to the fact that the
region is not a political centre, there was
an unusual circulation Of DR.. Parkhurst's 8
book, sour Fight With Tammany," and
during the last two weeks of the campaign
the evening attendance in the reading
room was not so large as usual. The chill
dren exhibited lively interest in the politi-
cal discussions. Such queries as What
Is the distinction between fusion and Tam
many Hail." what is Tammany Hall?"
with special emphasis on the Hall; How
do we vote?" what Ia the tariff and Are
the Civil Service Commissioners appointed
by the Mayor?' were by no means un-
usual.
That the canvass does have one marked
effect on reading would appear from a
great majority Of the reports; it lessons
the total use Of the library, and 1t does this
by offering counter attractions in the way
OF political meetings, stereoptioon ex-
hibitions and street corner discussion.
Thus the Riverside branch reports:
THE effect on the evening attendance in
the reading room has been most marked.
At 7.3O o'clock the library rises as one man
and goes to the corner, where Tammany
enlertans the delighted crowds with NOV
ing pictures. To be more correct, perhaps
should say all go out ex cept the little
men and women. These haven't come in.
AS soon as their mothers let them out
after supper they repair at once to the
curbstone to get the best seats, and here
they sit in patient rows waiting for the
performance to begin. The library has
no attraction TO offer that compares with
this Books are dull and tame affairs
when one can see the funny darky boy
Who nightly consumes alarming numbers