The Washington times., 1911-11-10
.b0OKWORM HAS
TURNED, CLASSIC
| COMES INTO OWN
Librarians Report Shows
BEST Sellers" Are
\ on Decline.

washington booklovers are gradually
weaving themselves OF the ''six- best
sellers habit," and are devoting more
or their time to the works Of standard
authors and to the classics.
This Is the observation made today
by George F. Bowerman. for seven
years librarian Of the District Public
Library. whose annual report for the
last year has been placed in the hahds
OF the Commissioners, and was made
public today
: When a copy OF the report reaches
Indiana and other literary centers Of
America, there is sure to be a commo-
1tion among our leading pudding geni-
uees"
For two or three years, Mr.. Bower
man says In his report, he has noted
a gradual tendency on the part of the
ibookworm to spend less and less time
with the modern daintily decorated
boo covers. between which are from 300
TO 400 pages Of writing, which are liter
ally dashed off by Americas young
writer's at regular newspaper speed. AS
the public interest in these volumes has
decreased, Mr.. Bowerman has noticed
that love for the standard works has
increased. He does not say so, but his
figures would indicate that If the samo
percentage of readers desert the mod
ern thriilers during the next five years,
as have In the last five, many publish
Ing houses may use their printing
presses for turning out Bibles and
copies Of Cicero's orations, and other
works Of like character.
Drop In Circulation.
THE total circulation Of fiction in
ids09-1e10 wss more than 5000 volumes
Jess than in 19os-1s09." the report shows.
while during the last year. the one
under: review. 26,72s fewer novels were
circulated than during the previous
year. Moreover. the purchase of fiction
during the last two or three years has
titles than of modern novels"
Mr.. Bowerman Is friend of our mod
ern @ fiction d writer. even If the average
much writing in a day as the olden time
authors did In a month.
TO fail to supply new fiction" he
o9nInSes, GO sn would asxS mean ear the alienation
portunity Of influencing their reading
and. perhaps. that Of their children.
The best novels also should be sup
workmanship in them as in other forms
Of current literature, and because they
are sought by readers of culture as
rsedsss wei as Sy be the more ore undiseriminating
stepptng stones to. more diversified read
Tho great need for additional branch
libraries to supply the needs of the
District is pointed out in the report.
Advice to Public.
Mr.. Bowerman produces some CON-
vincing arguments as to why the public
should make frequent visits to the Pub
lie Library. and why the books should
be read, and the halls occupied There
are several assembly rooms and leo
ture halls In the building, he said.
series Of lecture courses on various sub
5ects should be arranged, he believes
and the public be invited to attend
these. The Public Library is a part
of q training school, both for students
and for adults The lectures would he
. part of the educational training of
every person.
The number of visits made to the H.
brary last year, and preceding ones:
the amount Of work done by each EN-,
kloye, and the plans for the future for
the library, are given in detail by the
librarian.
In concluding his report. Mr.. Bower
man says:
"It is believed the Public Library which
Is only thirteen years old, has won its
place In the affections and esteem OF
the citizens Of Washington. If 1t de-
pended upon the popular will rather
than on that Of Congress, 1t is believed
the present insufficient appropriations
would be replaced by financial support