Evening star., 1914-02-01

"SAC 5iSSH 10 HlenlDerS OF Ihe
University Club. last night, in an ad-
oress by DR.. George F. Bowerman,
horarian OF the Public Library. Dr.
bo"erman prefaced his address with a
statement of his efforts to prepare a list
OF books to be recommended for the pur-
chase by the University Club for its
library.
Library Idea Explained.
DR.. Bowerman explained matters to
be considered by librarians of public
libraries in selecting the proper works
and at the same time provide good read
Ing material to satisfy the diversified
tastes of those who use a public Ii
brary.
In defining the principles governing
the choice of books for our second
Grass. those of opinion and speculation.
including theology. religion, certain
portions of philosophy and partisan
politics. it is desirable to call attention
to the fact that the viewpoint of the
public library in judging of any books
whether theological, reli"ious, political,
etc, Is not primarily religious or po-
litical, but literary and educational"
declared DIR. Bowerman.
It's standards are those arising from
educational aims. The library is not
lrreIislous or even religious, not
political and certainly not partisan,
but simply lacking in religious or po-
lltlcal color or bias. 1t is properly in
terested in religion, in philosophy, in
politics. for these are great facts in
human life. In some form or other
Kind and practically universal and
calls for books on these subjects are
deserving of consideration.
In addition to the broad field of re-
lfgious philosophical and political litera-
ture, devoid of sectarian or partisan bias,
the literature representing many differ
ent and often antagonistic beliefs should
be supplied according to the demands of
readers. The rublic Library will, there
fore. have representative collection of
books on all shades of opinion: idealism
and materialism: monism and dualism
orthodoxy and heterodoxy; Professionalism
and Catholicism; Mormonism, Christian
Science: socialism, anarchism and all
other isms of political theory.
Public Demand Supplied.
The library does not, of course, hold
itself responsible for the opinions ex-
pressed in the books on its shelves. AS
long as 1t supplies. SO far as possible, books
on both sides of a controverted question,
such for example as those of Henry
Charies Lea and of Able Vacandard on
the inquisition, it will keep itself free
from a charge of partisanship and afford
the public the means for forming indie
pendent Judgments Frequently in the
case of doctrinal or controversial books it
is question of the acceptance of gifts.
In such cases they should be accepted,
even though the purpose of the donor is
propagandism. provided they do not vio-
late all the canons cf good taste and are
not in thought indecent or subversive OF
morals. Books which are illiterate or vul-
gar in expression. coarse or immoral in
thought. according to generally accepted
standards of morality. and cheap and
tasteiess in printing and binding should
be decined-but never on account of dis
agreement on the part of the librarian
with the opinions expressed in them.
A few "bewares'' also We're given to the
members of the club by Dr. Bowerman.
Beware he said. of the faddist. or hobby
rider who would have you buy every
thing published on subject such as So
cialism; beware of his near kin, the
propagandist. who seeks to use the ma
chinery of the public library. expensive
for the public to maintain. but cheap for
his use, for the exploitation OF his pecul-
lar religious or medical theories; beware
of the booster; beware of the Greeks
bearing gifts; beware of the smooth
tongued and persuasive subscription book
agent; beware of building up a well
rounded collection or of owning every
book that no ''gentleman's library should
lack: beware of the spirit of dogmatisn,
narrow w-mindedness and finality in your
choice of books.