Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1956-06-22
University News


today have a better chance to build
a personal library of good books
than did their predecessors of sew
eral decades ago.
DR.. John A. Perkins. president
Of the university, stated that sur
vey Of university bookstore sales
reveal that today's undergraduate
benefit considerably from one of
the products of mass production
the handy paperback or pocket
book.
Costs Of standard textbooks have
jumped in the last ten years and
the price of best sellers has SCARED.
AS a result most college students
find IL impossible to purchase other
high priced volumes to start per-
sonal library after buying books
required for their instruction. The
paperback book offers a happy al
tentative. Bookstore sales indicate
that students are taking advantage
of the cheap paperbacks, many OF
them reprints of the best fiction
and non-fiction in the English
language.
1.-THE variety OF subject matter
found in these lOw-priced editions
is very extensive, and is ever in
creasing," DR.. Perkins stated.
Through this medium, college stu
dents may become regular book
purchasers and better read indiv-
iduals. The financial outlay is not
prohibitive for the poorest under
graduate.
University of Delaware students
were introduced to the possibiii
ties of the paperback editions as a
result of a project of the dean of
students office in December, 1855.
After consultation with a commit
tee of faculty and students, a guam
tity of paperback books was pur-
chased for distribution to campus
living groups. President Perkins
said the university gave the books
as a Christmas present to it's stu
dents. At the same time copies of
the titles were placed on sale in
the campus bookstore.
Bookstore manager Ronald A. Nc
Lain reports that one-tenth of the
volumes had to be replaced 10
times. Another rs per cent were
reOrdered four times; others were
reordered twice. Only two per cent,
he reports, failed to sell.
The purchase of pocket books
by Delaware students was not re-
stricted to titles in the popular"
or flight reading" category; many
were classics, products of well
known contemporary authors and
books which relate to college
course work.
Oddly enough, the "do-it-your-
self" series has been very popular
with collegians. Students also are
inclined to select books which re-
late to their studies, McLain said.
Engineering majors may be found
purchasing paperbacks which de-
scribe electrical wiring of houses,
concrete pouring, woodworking and
many other skills. Students of ag-
riculture find gardening topics to
their liking.
Other efforts have been made by
the university bookstore to stimuli
late the students interest in all
books. Book review magazines.
catalogues and other promotion
materials are conspicuously placed
in the bookstore for the students
inspection. Discounts of 10 per cent
are offered on all purchases total
ing more than one dollar. Com
Portable chairs and reading ia
BILE invite students to sit and read
these materials and the books as
well. Over 80 copies of the more ex-
pensive books are sold each month.
In selecting titles, McLain con-
fers with the library committee,
members of the English depart
ment and other faculty members.
In addition, he notes books cur
rently on sale ait commercial book
stores. Books pertaining to current
interests and hobbies of the stu
dents are stocked along with those
relating to courses in which Del
aware under-g graduates are enroll
ed.
Most of the books, he adds, are
purchased for leisure time reading
Other titles which have been order
ed at the specific request of in
structors have proved very popular
with students who are not enrolled
in those particular classes.
1t was pointed out by DIR. Perkins
that the economy of paperback
books allows college instructors
to range more freely in making
assignments. Years ago most in
structOrs necessarily required the
purchase of only single text by
each student. To ask students to
purchase a number of books i'm
posed a financial burden on them
Now, however, a student may pur-
chase Is or 20 paperback books for
the price of a single conventional
textbook. Consequently. an instruc-
tor may be much more liberal i'm
his assignment, often using origin
al source materials rather than a
compendium of ideas interpreted
by text book writer's.
An experimental course, "Ref1oc-
tive Reading, was instituted this
past semester at the University of
Delaware because the availability
of great books" in cheap paper
back editions. The class read and
discussed one book each week.
Offered by the school of arts and
science, this course had as it's pur-
pose enlarging the students pro-
ficiency in reading, writing and dis
cussion. Incidently. it should have
develoDed a real taste for cultural
readving.
"This course is liberal educa-
ton" DR.. Perkins declared.
Scholarships TO the University of
Delaware totaling $3.50 have been
awarded TO seniors of Georget own
High School, Dean of Students