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The Library World Volume 53 Issue 9

The Library World Volume 53 Issue 9 The utterance at a recent council estimates meeting of an Alderman to the effect that he opposed increase of the bookfund of the libraries in the town because, whenever he wanted a book, he bought it, was, we suspect, a vainglorious one used for a special purpose and time. It was obviously, too, that of a man who may read on occasion, but is not a regular user of books. There are many such and, no doubt, their limited point of view is to be encouraged, so far as bookpurchase is concerned. What it disregards, or does not understand, is that the real reader cannot easily contemplate life without books he never has enough of them, even if he is not a hoarder of them. There are thousands such. Their homes are not large enough, and their purses are too limited, for them to buy everything they want to read. The Alderman can feel that books are cheap he spends more, if he has the means, on a box of cigars, or a bottle of whiskey, than any ordinary book costs. A single visit to a theatre with his wife with the inevitable accompanying dinner or supper and transport costs him more than a shelf of them. If he throws away the book when read, or rejectedfor only a few such books are read through by the type under considerationthat is of little more consideration than his disposal of cigar ash or used theatre tickets. In this stringent time the greater part of the community depends upon the borrowed book. Inevitably this will increasingly be the case. Every man and woman, however, who loves books desires to possess them, and every wise librarian encourages that desire. It can reduce the use of libraries very little, if at all, and our business as librarians should be to provide for the literate nation, indeed to assist its making. There are many ways in which this might be donethe provision of lists on Books for Every Home with clear notes on why, for it must be realized that not every citizen knows the books that are commonplace tools. In how many homes, for instance, is Whittaker's Almanack to be found A reference book, of course but almost the first need of a household is a set of the best tools of this sort. Has any library yet issued a list with this special intention Say, Six Books necessary to Every Home We assume that when a reader is passionately drawn to a book he must buy it, but such attraction is mainly felt by those who are already booklovers. For others there are such questions as, where shall we put the books suggested An answer may be that every librarian, in his own area, should urge that builtin bookcases should be a feature in every house plan. He might do much to solve a real problem. He can continue, too, to assist bookbuying by his periodic exhibitions of books for prizes, presents Christmas and birthday and help to answer the question, What books of great literature ought to be in every home for children and for lifekeeping His every convert would become also a life user of libraries. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png New Library World Emerald Publishing

The Library World Volume 53 Issue 9

New Library World , Volume 53 (9): 24 – Sep 1, 1951
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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
0307-4803
DOI
10.1108/eb013753
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The utterance at a recent council estimates meeting of an Alderman to the effect that he opposed increase of the bookfund of the libraries in the town because, whenever he wanted a book, he bought it, was, we suspect, a vainglorious one used for a special purpose and time. It was obviously, too, that of a man who may read on occasion, but is not a regular user of books. There are many such and, no doubt, their limited point of view is to be encouraged, so far as bookpurchase is concerned. What it disregards, or does not understand, is that the real reader cannot easily contemplate life without books he never has enough of them, even if he is not a hoarder of them. There are thousands such. Their homes are not large enough, and their purses are too limited, for them to buy everything they want to read. The Alderman can feel that books are cheap he spends more, if he has the means, on a box of cigars, or a bottle of whiskey, than any ordinary book costs. A single visit to a theatre with his wife with the inevitable accompanying dinner or supper and transport costs him more than a shelf of them. If he throws away the book when read, or rejectedfor only a few such books are read through by the type under considerationthat is of little more consideration than his disposal of cigar ash or used theatre tickets. In this stringent time the greater part of the community depends upon the borrowed book. Inevitably this will increasingly be the case. Every man and woman, however, who loves books desires to possess them, and every wise librarian encourages that desire. It can reduce the use of libraries very little, if at all, and our business as librarians should be to provide for the literate nation, indeed to assist its making. There are many ways in which this might be donethe provision of lists on Books for Every Home with clear notes on why, for it must be realized that not every citizen knows the books that are commonplace tools. In how many homes, for instance, is Whittaker's Almanack to be found A reference book, of course but almost the first need of a household is a set of the best tools of this sort. Has any library yet issued a list with this special intention Say, Six Books necessary to Every Home We assume that when a reader is passionately drawn to a book he must buy it, but such attraction is mainly felt by those who are already booklovers. For others there are such questions as, where shall we put the books suggested An answer may be that every librarian, in his own area, should urge that builtin bookcases should be a feature in every house plan. He might do much to solve a real problem. He can continue, too, to assist bookbuying by his periodic exhibitions of books for prizes, presents Christmas and birthday and help to answer the question, What books of great literature ought to be in every home for children and for lifekeeping His every convert would become also a life user of libraries.

Journal

New Library World – Emerald Publishing

Published: Sep 1, 1951

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