Evening star., 1937-07-11
Libraries Are Kept Busy
During School Vacation
Stream of Varied Readers Utilize Facilities
Books Are Loaned for Entire
Summer in Some Cases.

stitutes for the thriller trash toward
which boys of certain age almost
invariably gravitate, we rather sue
cessfully try to substitute the works
Of Bret Harte, Hamlin Garland and
Will James with their more worth
while incidents of Western frontier
experiences. Biographies, books Of
travel, plays and even collections of
poetry are not only extremely popu-
lar among our young people during
vacation time, but in many instances
the demand for non-fction books ex-
ceeds that for fiction"
Etiquette Books Lead.
Books on etiquette, both serious and
humorous, lead all others in popu-
larity among adolescent youngsters.
Modern Etiquette for Young Peo-
pie" by Landers, is the prime favorite
above all others with readers Of high
school age. Borrowing it from the
library over the week end with the
avoWed purpose Of trying it out on
our l7-yearold boy, we found him as
engroSSed in its contents. even with
the lure OF the out of doors at Gibson
Island, as if its contents had been
stirring tales of adventure.
Requests for this volume and others
of similar nature sometimes swamp the
circulation department as an indica-
ton perhaps that our young people are
willing to seek advice as to manners
and customs from the written page,
especially II it be set up with dash Of
humor, even at the time that they
seem most reluctant to accept our
oral dictums."
Graeme and Sarah Lorimer's books
we also learned are the ones most in
vogue among fiction readers of high
school age, with Men Are Like Street
Cars Heart Specialist" and Stag
Line in demand according to the
order of their listing.
This vacation time, runners-up in
non-fiction. are books on sailing and
collections of sea stories, with Men,
Fish and Boats" particularly in de-
mand, AS might be expected from the
readers in library from whose win
OF the Potomacs winding way, dotted
with watercraft.
Mrs Helen Steinbarger, popular
readers assistant at the Georgetown
Branch, who, in addition to her usual
duties, was busy showing a Denver
welfare worker the details of the IL
braryS cooperative facilities with its
community, told of the special vaca-
tlon privileges which are afforded pa
| irons of the Washington Public Lii
brary system. If you are leaving town
and wish to catch up" on your read
ing. as the records indicate most of
those who seek vacation reading privi-
legeS do, you may, upon conference
with the library assistant in charge
of the desk. take out certain books
which need not be renewed until Oc-
tober l. These books, naturally. are
those which can best We spared from
the librarys shelves for the Summer
months.
Teachers Use Privilege.
This courtesy is of especial advan-
tage to parents whose children have
been given prescribed Summer reading
lists from their schools or who wish to
keep up their own and their off,
springs reading interest by having
worthwhile books available. Teachers
also are enthusiastic patrons of this
privilege, often taking away with them
upon their Summer vacations books
which will be of benefit to them in
planning Winter courses of study or
anticipated European travel.
There is also" Mrs. Steinbarger
explained, "a growing tendency on
the part of whole families going on
vacation pilgrimages to famous old
homes and other historic spots to
come into the library and become
familiar with them through whatever
reading matter We may have concern
ing them. Many times requests are
m do To 10 c,ch ~,