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Page 14
Per cent.
General works .04
Philosophy .01
Religion .02
Sociology .09
Philology .01
Science .08
Useful arts .06
Fine arts .04
Literature .12
Biography .10
History .13
Travels .10
Fiction .20
____
Total 100
Local interest should be fostered by buying freely books on local
history and science and books by local authors.
The librarian should keep informed of coming events, and see that the
library is provided with the books for which there is sure to be a
future demand. He should avoid personal hobbies and be impartial on
all controversial questions. He should not be overconfident in his
knowledge of what will elevate and refine the community.
It is better to buy 10 extra copies of a wholesome book wanted by the
public than one copy each of 10 other books which will not be read.
Do not waste time, energy, and money--certainly not in the early days
of the library--in securing or arranging public documents, save a few
of purely local value. Take them if offered and store them.
Do not be too much impressed by the local history plea, and spend
precious money on rare volumes or old journals in this line.
Certain work can judiciously be done toward collecting and preserving
materials for local history that will involve neither expense nor
much labor, and this the librarian should do. Do not turn the public
library, which is chiefly to be considered as a branch of a live,
everyday system of popular education, into a local antiquarian
society; but simply let it serve incidentally as a picker-up of
unconsidered trifles. A wide-awake, scholarly librarian will like his
town, and delight in at least some study of its antecedents. And such
a librarian need not be a crank, but must needs be an enterprising,
wide-awake, appreciative student, who can scent the tastes and needs
of posterity.
Put no money into rare books. A book which was out of print 10 years
or 200 years ago, and has not insisted upon republication since, has,
ordinarily, no place in the active, free public library. If you get
it, sell it and buy a live book.
The free public library should encourage its readers to suggest books
not in the library, by providing blanks for that purpose, and paying
courteous attention to all requests.
Ask by letter, by circulars, and by notes in the local papers, for
gifts of books, money, and periodicals. Acknowledge every gift.
Remember that one who has helped the library, be it ever so little,
has thereby become interested in it, and is its friend.
CHAPTER XII
Reference books for a small library, compiled by C.A. Baker, of the
Public library, Denver
This list includes about 75 books, costing about $550. It is arranged
alphabetically. It is subdivided into four lists, arranged according
to relative importance. This subdivision is shown by the numbers
prefixed to each entry.
2. Adams, C.K. Manual of historical literature. 1889. O. Harper, cl.
$2.50.
1. Adams, O.F. Dictionary of American authors. 1897. O. Houghton,
Mifflin, cl. $3.
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