Page images
PDF
EPUB

advertisements nor announcements are, as a rule, misleading except in the case of some novels. That they are misleading is due in part to differences of opinion of the worth of novels, and in part to the fact that mediocre novels are advertised in such a way that one is deceived in their real merit. Announcements often include some information about the author, especially if he is not well known. This information is helpful as an aid in selecting books.

The purpose of a book review is to tell in a few words what the book is about and to give some estimate of its value. They are written in different ways; sometimes the story is partly told, sometimes quotations are given illustrating the style or thought of the book, sometimes an outline is written and sometimes the book is compared with similar books. They usually include an opinion of the value of the book. Reviews of novels and other popular books are often hurriedly written and are sometimes of little value except to call attention to the book. Those of technical books are written by specialists who take time to read them, or at least to look them over carefully. Reviews vary in length from a mere notice to as much as a page, depending in part upon the periodical and in part upon the importance of the book reviewed. As a rule the good book, the exceptional book, is recognized and is given sufficient consideration and space in the periodicals. From the standpoint of the librarian a review is usually satisfactory if it sets forth the purpose of the book, its good qualities, its defects, and compares it with other books on the same subject.

Advance copies of a book are sent out by the publishers to the various periodicals in order that reviews may appear about the time the book is placed on sale. Technical books are sent to technical journals, books on education to educational journals, etc. and those on popular subjects, including novels, are sent to the daily papers in the large cities and to such magazines of a literary character as devote space to reviews. The principal magazines that print reviews of literary and popular books are: Bookman, International Book Review, Nation,

Outlook, Independent, Dial, Review of Reviews, Literary Review of New York Evening Post, New York Times Book Review, and the A. L. A. Booklist. The principal English periodicals including reviews similar in character are: Nation-Athenaeum, Spectator, Edinburgh Review, Bookman (London), and Literary Supplement of London Times. The Book Review Digest, including digests of reviews, and indicating where the reviews may be found and whether favorable or otherwise, is a useful publication. In it appear digests of reviews published in about sixty English and American publications.

The Author.

In selecting a book it is always important to know something about the author. Reputable publishing houses, however, seldom publish a book which does not appear to be accurate and reliable in every respect. Scientific and technical books of value have nearly all been written by men educated and trained in scientific and technical subjects. There are very few exceptions. The same is true of many other subjects, as for example mathematics, medicine, economics, language, and education. The mass of literature on all general subjects is now so large, and is increasing so rapidly that only those who have spent some years in study and have learned how to investigate a subject are really capable of producing something new and worth while. The man of limited education can not do it. The newspaper has provided the training for some of our novelists, and is providing the training for some of them today. Some men like W. D. Howells, Clemens, and Burroughs, self educated and self trained writers, have produced, and are producing very good books. This kind of training, however, is not sufficient for a writer of scientific and technical books. Many local histories have been produced by men who have not had training, or experience in writing, with the result that some are poorly done.

The facts about the life of an author, of most use to the librarian, are those relating to his education, and his training and experience for writing; especially the experience that has

been of use in writing the book in question. Professors in colleges and universities and men in the professions of law, medicine, engineering and other subjects usually produce scholarly works.

Publishing Houses.

Some knowledge of publishing houses is important in selecting books not only because one learns where certain publications may be obtained but for other reasons as follows: a) They differ as much in the character and quality of their products as firms engaged in any other business; some issuing books on all subjects, others publishing nearly all kinds but devoting most attention to a few subjects; others limiting their publications to a few subjects, others devoting their attention to textbooks, and others producing books at low cost by using cheap paper and cheap bindings. b) The quality of workmanship and appearance of publications issued by different houses differ to some extent, especially in regard to works on which the copyright has expired and which have been reprinted. Many of the large companies carry in stock reprints of non-copyrighted works and a few make this their specialty.

The price of a copyrighted book is set by the publisher. There is not much reduction no matter from whom it may be purchased, but the price of one no longer thus protected depends upon the size of the work, the demand, and the materials and refinements of the art employed in producing it. It may be illustrated and bound in leather or may be printed on cheap paper and bound in cheap cloth. Consequently books of this class of which there are no small number, because they include the classic productions of literature, may be purchased at different prices from different publishers.

If in the course of his work the librarian gives attention to the appearance, the quality of workmanship produced, and the character of the publications of different houses, the training will teach him what to expect from different publishers and where certain kinds of publications may be obtained.

Lists of Selected Books.

For some years now lists of books most suitable for small libraries have been compiled by a number of agencies. The most important is the "Book List" published monthly by the American Library Association. This publication is a selected, annotated list of those most suitable for the small library and for that reason has a wide circulation. For several years the New York State Library has published an annual list of "Best books for small libraries", issued especially for the benefit of the libraries of that state. Then many of the library commissions compile, from time to time, lists most suitable for small libraries, and departments of education issue lists for rural schools and high schools. Without such helps those in charge of small libraries would find the matter of selecting the works most suited to their needs a difficult matter

Then there are other helps which may be used. Some of the large libraries publish monthly bulletins including a list of the books purchased each month. While these may not be of so much value for this purpose yet when a list is annotated, as is that issued by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, it may be used to good advantage. Different societies, corporations and other agencies issue selected lists on special subjects some of which are suggestive.

In 1904 the American Library Association compiled a catalogue of selected books under the title of "A. L. A. Catalogue; 8,000 volumes for a popular library", (published by the U. S. Government,) and have since compiled two additional volumes including books published between the years 1904 and 1921 most suitable for the small library. This set of three volumes is a good guide for the library of limited means.

Supplementary Reading.

Examine the advertisements of six different publishers in magazines and note the character of the descriptive information. Read four book reviews, noting whether estimate of value of publication is given.

Give brief account of the education, training and experience of two writers.

Read one reference on book reviews.

Canby, W. S. Slosson, E. C. 395-96.

Sins of book rewiews. Bookman, 54: 97—101.

How to review books. Independent, 104:

Glasson, W. H. Methods of book reviewing. Library journal, 37: 133-35.

Kinkaid, Mary H. The book review, its worth and worthlessness. Library journal, 27: 827-29.

Judging the Value of Books for Libraries.

In estimating the worth of books for libraries it is necessary to take into consideration the classes of readers for whom they are intended. They are selected and added to a library for the use of the citizens of the city or community in which it is located. The citizens, however, are unequally educated; they represent different stages of mental development; and they are interested in different subjects and things. A reader enjoys a work in which he is interested and which he can comprehend, but can not enjoy and may find little interest in one beyond his comprehension. Whether a work is a good one or not depends upon how well it meets the needs of the particular class of readers for whom it was written. Each patron judges the worth of books and the worth of a library according to his mental ability and experience. His judgment is based upon the books that come within his comprehension and interest him. The boy has one standard of judgment, the adult with a common school education another, and the scholar another. In selecting books all classes of readers must be taken into consideration, children of different ages and both educated and uneducated adults. All must be given an opportunity to read books that come within the range of their comprehension and enjoyment even though, to fulfill this requirement, it be necessary to purchase some works of only mediocre value.

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »