The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-26
MIL PROTECT
YOUNG READERS
State Librarian Wants Names
of Those Requesting OBJ
jectionable books
CERTAIN VOLUMES
ARE WELL THUMBED
Examination Shows That Those
of Least General Merit Are
Among Those Most Con
stantly Sought.

Because number OF young boys
ana girls, taking advantage Of the
fact that the public has access to all
the books In the state Library have
made a habit of asking for and read
ing a certain class of literature little
calculated 10 prove their morals Or.
Henry McIiwaine, the State Librarian.
II preparing what he calls star
liet.H upon which he will place the
titles of all Undesirable" publications.
and whenever young people of ire
sponsible age give evidence Of a taste
tor such reading. their names will be
required before the books will be
sssued TO theE.
Ii was at one time suggested that
all these books be locked In a sepa-
rate case and withdrawn from gen
erhf use, but this idea was abandoned,
~ X was shown that the public has
right to get the State books. and
~ some of the very publications which
these young people of strange taste
insist on reading. are OF immense
tA1ne from literary and historic stand
points.
avaiiable to anyone who has use for
them. and no one will experience any
trouble in getting them. DR.. Nell
waiHe merely wishes 70 prevent young
boys and girls whose reading has
not been properly directed from cul-
tisAttnE tastes which can but lead TO
their moral corruption.
Careful watch has been kept for
some time upon a number OF these
Ns%ss aAzA A-u -.
apend hours nearly every day In the
reading room of the library porting
over books which they knew their
parents would not allow them to read
1t home.
Read to Pieces.
Members of the library staff ex-
hibfted some of these volumes to "A
representative of The Virginian. and
though IL was pointed out that they
arc publications which should be con
suited almost exclusively by students
of philosophy, history and the sciences
1t was seen that the books had been
read almost to pieces" 1t being thus
shown that TO a certain class OF read
efs they have long been the most
popular books In the library.
The State Librarian has made note
of several school boys OF tender age
who have recently paid frequent visits
to the library and have spent hours
At . time looking through illustrated
medical treatises On one occasion,
B the librarian says, the boys suddenly
closed the book and left the library
when he approached the table at
which they were reading.
Though Ii may seem very strange,
Z Ii was shown that the taste for such
morbid literature has been by no
means confined to the masculine nina.
Tor young girls. well dressed and ap-
parsntly of good breeding. have ex-
hthttsd such an unusual liking FOR
books OK Questionable character and
have 20 persisted 10 asking for them
that upon several occasions the libra
rien In charge Of the reading room
hrs mildly suggested that perhaps the
books called for were not just what
the young lady wanted; that perhaps
she had confused It's name with the
name OF more desirable publication,
that perhaps she was not aware that
81 was not publication calculated
10 interest her.
Requisite Withdrawn.
In such instances the request has
been Immediately Withdrawn, and
thus the librarian feels that the libra
~ IL not only able TO exercise an
tmnnense power for educational good.
hNt may omstimes be able to turn
boy or girl to better reading.
In speaking of the proposed star
LII, Mr.. NcIlwAlne said:
u feel that the library Is not
usreay = stack room. 1t is supported
" ths State and consequently has a
duty 70 fuinli. We do what We can
~ hoap educational movements. and
10 not see why we cannot do what
W can In the moral field.
There are many books in the IL
bfary which children should not read.
They, nevertheless, ask for them. and
an sure that II II not In apprecsa-
sIDa OF their literary quality nor his
ens1c value. They read them to satisfy
: hf0d OF morbid desire for such lit
sratuFe, and instead OF being helped
bstteye their moral characters are
aQna Just that much harm.
III one Of these books is desired
= order that a reference may be
hnntoA UP. no one win object to Civ
lar HIS name when asking for IT, bur
feel that II the book IL sought for
other purposes We viii soon be able
u And out. and think that tha boy
or giri, when finding that the librarian
knows why the books are 30 popular
win try very soon TO learn to choose
bo4tef and more wholesome books"