The sun., 1919-11-02

select but TWO.
The first is that it will put thousands
Of good books into the hands Of children,
one good book in the hands Of child
being equal in value to two equally good
books in the hands Of an adult.
The second is that Children's Book
Week provides meeting ground for all
makers, promoters, heralds and bllpos-
tiers of good reading. l mean, OF course
the authors, publishers, retailers, libra
Eans, teachers and all who professionally
or otherwise stand ready to help the cause.
Library folks, 80 far from showing any
reluctance with regard 10 q movement
which is mainly for the purpose OF IN
ereasing the private ownership OF books
are among its heartiest supporters.
It isn't the Specialization of books that
interests us. but the Specialization OF what
books have in them.
It was under Boy Scout auspices that
F. K. Matthews, Chief Scout Librarian,
originated the idea, which finds expression
next week, but it is now the booksellers
themselves who are promoting it. The
movement is depending upon public libra
ries for a good deal of help, as this letter
shows:
To the librarians Corner, Books AND
THE Book WoRLD-S1: The approach OF
the National "Children's Book Week"
November 1O-15, justifes my writing to
you asking that you join with me In urg-
ing Librarians to support this week by
holding at this time their usual exhibits OF
Juvenile books suggested for Christmas
purchase.
Some librarians, besides holding ex-
hibits in their libraries, are setting up SIM
flar DISPLAYS in their local book stores, and
In one instance all the book stores OF
certain city have consented to have the
chiIdren's librarian visit their stores and
out of their current stocks in each store
select for special display books that the
children's librarian can with good con-
science recommend that particular stores
customers to purchase for their chlldren's
Christmas.
This latter plan seems to me to be SO
splendid that I hope you will say a good
word. or even two, in its favor. For too
MANY book stores are filled, some Of them
to overlooking, with trashy juveniles, In
MANY instances nickel novels masquerad-
ing in the dress suit of the bound book.
But l am confident, after years OF expe-
rience, that there is hardly bookseller
anywhere but what upon the basis just
proposed would welcome into his store
the librarian of his city to help sell the
better and best books for children, and so
build I'D business that will, to his salts
faction, eventually eliminate the trash
and plumber, for which he apologies, say
ing he sells them because they are cheap
in price and because so frequently they
are the kind of books called for by his
customers. F. z MATTHEW'S,
Chief Scout Librarian, Boy Scouts OF
America.
Frederic S. Melcher Of the Publishers
Weekly, who is always to be found among
the top sergeants when developments OF
practical idealism in matters of print are
In need of hard working leadership, Is
chairman of the committee for Chidren's
Book Week. He writes to the Librarians
Corner to express satisfaction, though not
surprise, at the large proportion OF libra
rians who are keenly interested in having
books at home.
Mr.. Melcher quotes Miss Wood, who is
superintendent of school Libraries in Min
nesota. A cllild's life is partly In school,
partly at home, partly about the streets.
Books, says she, should confront the child
at all these points l
Al an instance of The sort of thing that