The Detroit times., 1911-06-30
PROSPERITY CAUSE
Of LESS READING
OF BOOKS
People Haven't as Much Leisure as
Formerly, Says Librarian Utley in
Explaining Decrease in
Circulation.
Calls Are Heavy, Though, for "the
Latest Eccentricity in the
Fiction Lines"

The fact that Detroit is so prosper
Gus and her citizens so devoted 20
business life that there is no time
left for reading, is one of the reasons
set forth in the annual report OF the
Detroit library commission for lSlO.
for the decrease of five per cent In
the home circulation OF public library
books. While the number OF card
holders increased from 55,668 In 1909
to 1921 In 1910, the actual number
of books taken out of the public IL
braries OF the city decreased five per
cent. The same condition exists In
most OF the larger cities OF the coun-
try. according to Librarian Henry Nj.
Utley and Las been the subject or
much discussion In library circles and
periodicals. In explanation, Mr.. Ut
ley says:
"It is well understood experience
that when times are dull and people
are out of employment, the use OF
the public library Is most active. me
reverse Is the case also. Another
probable influence Is the undeniaDie
fact that more persons are buying
books than formerly. The cheapen-
ing of editions of standard books has
stimulated the private ownership OF
books wonderfully. The extensive
publicity given by publishers to tho
latest eccentricity in the fiction line,
brings an epnemeral demand, and IL
the library were simply seeking to
swell its circulation, 1t would need
only TO supply every call for the
latest
"The work which the public library
does cannot be shown In statistics.
The knowledge which the young ma
chinist gets out of library book may
be OF great financial benefit to him In
the course OF his life. This might be
computed In dollars and cents. The
benefit 10 the young student 10 broad
enlng and inspiring on the intellectual
side and yet may not show until his
mature years, In a strong and com
manding professional or business ca
reer. The use Of books may be In
spring on the,spiritual side, for read
ing is not wholly for advancement or
intellectual betterment, but also TO-
refreshment of mind and soul So.
that while the library serves all these
ends, II Is not able to show In any
graphic form the extent OF Its service
but that service Is generally recog-
nized and understood"
Mr.. Utley's report also shows that
the commission Is doing a rapidly In
creasing work among children. and
while activities In the children's de.
partment has extended over 25 years
Il has expanded wonderfully In the
recent past. The commission SUP
plies thousands Of books to the pub
lie schools and to big industrial
plants Of the city, and a constant ef-
fort is made to improve the methods
and Increase the supply for this
Embossed books for the blind are
kept in the Scripps branch library,
where special facilities are at the dis.
posal OF blind persons. Here. also,
through the voluntary services Of
philanthropic young women. weekly
readings are given to the blind.
Lecture courses with the use or
the stereopticon have been carried
on in several Of the branch libraries,
q regular course having been given
for the past four years, In the Field
ave. branch.
Early In the year. reads Mr.. Ut
ley's report, "the commission bought
an inexpensive lantern which served
a very good purpose at the Field
branch. The librarian operated it
herself, and gave historical talks to
children and young people. showing
historic places and incidents by
means OF the stereopticon. These at
tracted large gatherings and resulted
In turning the attention OF the young
people to reading books on the sub
Jects treated. as the records OF the
Continued on Page Eighty