The New York herald., 1921-03-13
Publishers Find Wide Demand
For Character-Building Literature

been admittedly a dead issue except
as reference material for Sunday
school and other church workers, yet
every church service gives an i'm
pulse TO further thought and reading,
and nothing could seem more salts
factory to both preacher and parish
than that suitable reading should be at
hand while the impulse lasts.
Pamphlet material, valuable as 1t
is, does not fully cover the need. The
best religious and social thought Is in
book form. This means that the ex-
pense must be justified by having the
books pass from nand to hand. To
avoid the book registration feature,
which would slow down circulation in
the short minutes after church, no
records are kept, and the prominent
label on both covers is relied on to
keep people in mind that they have a
borrowed book. 1t is hoped that no
book VIII be kept over two weeks.
though there Is no restriction in the
matter. The one request made Of
users is that they put their names
after reading inside the cover of the
book on the bookplate provided for
this purpose.
1.-THE central theme Of the winter
sermons has given the direction to the
choice of books: the social application
of the teachings of Jesus. Several
copies of the best known books are In
the collection = Peabody. Matthews,
Rauschenbush and numerous others
on present social problems.
"The library now contains sixty
books. all gathered especially for the
purpose. About forty of these are
constantly out in circulation. New ad-
ditions are being frequently made. If
any one has books that would supple
ment this material now available the
gift of such books would be welcome.
"This library is not a substitute for
q. home library or a public library, but
just another method of putting books
to their full use among u.s."
The UNCONVENTIONAL publishers have
circulariZed thousands of clergymen,
calling their attention to the Week.
Together with several of the general
publishers they have sent special an
nouncements to the trade, of books
and various editions of the Bible. for
Supplementing the general plan, the
Catholic publishers have taken up the
idea through the Catholic book stores,
and the National Catholic Welfare
Council has sent announcements to
their clergy. The Chicago Booksellers
League has sent an announcement 10
every minister in the Chicago district
giving suggestions for directing the
minds of the people to religious books,
and especially to the Bible, as source
OF inspiration and strength"
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton has sent the following announce
ment to 5000 secretaries:
Religious Book Week, March Ii to
| 90. This is great stride forward in
the history of the religious book world.
It Is the practical outcome of that
getting together spirit which we call
cooperation. Both the publishers and
the distributors of books have felt that
| there is no good reason why people
should not buy books for themselves
and for their friends as frequently as
they now buy less desirable things.
"It Is the purpose of the year round
bookselling plan to try out this Idea
by applying a general programme
under which all publishers and book
sellers will work to stimulate greater
public interest in the whole book field,
and from March 13 to 20 to concen-