The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-10

lis 4 4 Il . . . /.
mo, ot, March It'll, last. II remained
In session until March 18TH; it's mie NJ.
bers famillarizing themselves with mo
evidence In the said TRANSCRIPT nnd A. ne az
Ing testimony from tbs librarian, the ,, as
sral divisions Of the library, ana also
from two or three other Of I is en- IN,
81,loycs. as well MS MIR. X. @. BELL. of NJ, Mp
BELL Book and Stationery Company. Ine
l,onfd IS Justified In saying that IT MADE
every reasonable effort to obtain all 80
light 1t could from any source. upon, NE ll'e
management and condition OF the library
and the acts ana conduct Of its officers ,,
II copy OF the evidence taken before tho
Library Board, rs we'll as COPY OF the
evidence taken before the Legislative
committee.
rho evidence taken before both
bodies pertains very much to the game
questions; although the evidence
taken before, the Legislative committees
high or or excsssiye priess alleged to
have been paid for the books for tho
travelling school libraries. while the
evidence before the be&,'d bears as
well upon the conduct. of the subordi-
mates of the library force as it does
upon that Of the librarian.
The board did not deem II necessary
to take much additional testimony upon
aid deem 1t proper that ii should seek
WHO are employed in the library.
There Will be found in dhe evidence
taken before the Legislative committee
many contradictory statements as 10
OF the hooks which were purehasod
After a careful, examination OF the
e ., taken before the conmi,tee,
that the books had been bought from
Messrs. Putnam's Sons. ut price too
high or excessive, had been disnroyod
comment upon the conflicting statc-
ntcnts as to certain books selected hs
the witnesses. In some instances wit
ed to recognize that they wore COM
pairing hooks. not only different in
their makc-np, but also in their text.
Features of Testimony.
An Intelligent and inst conclusion can
only be arrived at by noticing the
salient features or this contradictory
that hfe wpoolSs. similar i IN y material ssla
and makeup could have been bought
more mo, cheapl.y yet, Al, eXamination or
statements were unreliable, because
not based upon accurate data for COM
parison. The far greater weight of the
got full value for every book pur-i
chased for the general travelling libra
rIess and the school travelling libraries.
three books, The number OF books pur-
chased for the two systems of travels
ing 8 libraries ,s,ss Is Is. 3;lS9 ~. /.
travelling iibraries RES especially ST ihquired
about by the committee, were, one on
Agricultural chemistry, Which was too
Oh, OLD Pnhi St, to be very serviee-
States Catalogue, 1902, at 81, but cost
raising, which was seemingly objected
merit OF the text, but because the
author had foolishly introduced a pho-
tograph OF himself with an absurd
in the United States Catalogue at 81.
and cost the State IS cents. The other
was a work of Edward Atkinson, the
distinguished economist OF Boston. This
last mentioned book, while advertising
q certain stove, was in SOME of it's
features scientific work. The com
smttee seemed to entertain the idea
of no value. The fact is, that the book
is, by persons familiar with the value
Of books, deemed worthy of purchase.
1t is listed in the United States Cata-
iognc at 81, and cost the State ninety
cents. Tn total value of these three
books was SEA.
From the evidence. it will be seen
that the real contention was. not that
the State gave too high prices for the
books purchased, but that cheaper edi-
tons should have been. purchased. This
must be matter of opinion. The
Librarian insisted that to have pur-
chased cheaper editions would have
been false economy: by reason OF the
fact that the books would receive in
some; II not IN many cases, severe
handling, in being carried from house
TO house ofLthe readers of the different
counties. He insisted that books. in
order 10 encourage reading, Should be
III good type and on good paper. and
attractive III their general appearance.
TO sustain This view he did NOT rely
npen his own opinion. but as the evil
de1lce shows, read from letters from
the leading experts on the sul,<ct of
libraries Mr. Edwin Il, Anderson,
sa1d 70 have charge of the largest
travelling library sys1em In the world.
Ntsie. 4Ae 3R9i1lS OF cheap editions
as, ,f 3 y gaHce, not q saving
MI Henry u. LeSler of tile Sfiscon-
sin free Library Commission wrote:
sut aae travelling libraries go out for
si1 months AZ time and the books
psae- for ti1st period without being
oFessiepied at The central Office"
Acted With True Economy.
IN yana's Library Primer. FOR Ii
lia-ed fur the Worlds Library Congress.
h.sid in Chicago IN 1888 the purchase
et cheap editions IS advised against.
AZ should ee remembered That the
nppES Were AG-Gha SD. not for what
1is49- be called !. stationary library, but
1or travelling libraries--a use which
-I:rss aeaces sarily subject a book TO the
sey+rsst test.
The board is Of opinion. both from
ho-nnon sense view of the aues-
tiua as we'll as from the weight of
evidence. lhat the librarian acted with
true economy and for the best inter
esss Of tie state in not buying cheap
.sailtons OF books. but IN buying those
which would best stand the hard use
10 which they wosild be subjected
But IL Is further insisted by those
Jrtt .,T ri,
chases made by the librarian that.
while he should not have purchased
such cheap editions as would not stand
the service required. yet lie could have
purchased serviceable editions al lower
prices.
The witnesses VINO SO testifi..d We're