THE SELECTION OF BOOKS

Evening Star, Issue 14554, 1 May 1911, Page 1

THE SELECTION OF BOOKS

At the Librarians' Conference, held at Auckland at Easter time, Mr T. W. Rowe, of Christchurch, road the following interesting paper, entitled 'The Selection of Books for Public Libraries':— The subject about which I have elected to say a few Avoids to this Conference is one of very great importance to all libraries, and particularly so to those situated, as our New Zealand libraries are, at the ends of the earth, far remote from all great centres of publication. A wise selection of books ensures that a library shall fulfil its functions efficiently and with benefit to the community; an unwise selection defeats, at any rate to a large oxtent, the purposes for which libraries exist. The subject of tins paper falls naturally into two main divisions: (1) What books to choose, (2) How to choose them. It may bo said that if a wise decision as to the choice of books is arrived at, it will matter very little as to the melhcd of exercising that choice. But this is not so. Sound principles may be hid down as to the class of books to be selected, but the rendering those principles effective is largely dependent upon the method adopted for carrying them out. Public librarips naturally fall into two classesreference and jending libraries. The books required "for the one should be selected on different principles from those that regulate the selection of books for the other. The functions of the two libraries are'entirely different. The reference library exists, or should exist, not merely to afford the public the useful information to be found in directories, army, navy, and clergy lists, peerages, almanacs, and similar " ti'iblia abiblia." but to contain, if possible, the best literature in our own language, in Latin and Greek, and in the best-known languages spoken on Iho Continent of Europe. Besides being, the repository of the best ancient and modern literature, an —Efficient Reference Library—should have a standard selection of historical works (some of these, it is true, rank high as pure literature), of voyages and travels (not many of which possess line literary qualifies), of scientific works, of works in philosophy, sociology, end, 1 would add, theology, and of works dealing with the line and the useful arts. The books composing a reference library are intended to form a permanent stock, and so tho best editions permitted by the finances of the library should be chosen. Of purely literary works —poetry, drama, essays, arid so on —the best critical editions procurable should be obtained. They are intended for the use of the serious student as well as for the dilettante, and the utility of a book will often depend not merely upon the text of the original work, but upon tho critical and expository work of tho editor. In other cases-—history, travel, science, art, sociology, philosophy —it is equally important to obtain what are known as '"best editions" -those printed in largo type on good paper, with an ample and dignified page. It is too much, however, to expect a reference library in New Zealand to contain more than a selection of the best books in any given subject, and it becomes a matter of importance to decide what subjects shall be left unrepresented and what subjects shall be represented as fully as possible. With regard to the former, 1 am of opinion that no attempt should be made to include a legal or a medical section. Law books and medical books are generally unsuitable for inclusion in a general libraiy—firstly, on account of their initial cost; secondly, because they arc highly technical, and can be used -properly only by a lawyer or a physician ; and thiidly, because they rapidly become out of date, and require to be displaced by more recent editions. At tho most, only a few popular legal and medical books' should be included in a public general reference libraiy, and 1 seriously doubt the advisability of including any. Then, it is inadvisable, to include highly technical works of any sort that are expensive in themselves and are likely Jo be used by very few l v.ders. This* will apply practically to all the fine and useful arts', and the selection"*)! books in these subjects requires much care, si; that large sums of money may not bo spent in tho purchase of books, no doubt excellent in themselves, but of very restricted use. A small reference library will probably have to exercise a severe restriction in regard to the —Classes of Books—which it cam admit, and the point to he decided will be not what elates of books are io be rejected, but what are to find a place on the shelves of the library. But v.'hetbrr a refeienec libraiy be small or large, it should, I flunk, make an effort to form as complete a collection a.s possible -if works of local interest. Books which could not possibly have any claim to inclusion on the score of literary merit may justlv find a. place if they deal with any matter of local interest in any manner whatever. Tin* larger reference libraries in Now Zealand should endeavor to form as complete a collection ;is possible of New Zealand books—that is, of books dealing with the history, exploration, liolitics, biography, natural history, geology of New Zealand, or with any other matter referring to this country. 1 would also include imaginative works— poetry and fiction—essays, and other purely literary works, written by New Zealand authors, however poor may be the literary quality of these productions. 'J'hey are the first beginnings of what in time may become a great literatUT(.—a part of the still greater literature of the English people—but with characteristics of its own. In addition to such books, both larger and smaller libraries which form any reference department whatever should make a ' collection of books dealing in the ways, already mentioned with the provincial or smaller district, and with the town in which they aro respectively situated. Coming now to —Lending Libraries, —

we find they fulfil very different functions from reference libraries. They provide for many people all the reading they get. They should find room for much that is of merely ephemeral interest. It is ami of their'functions to provide for the public an opportunity of reading these lwoks about which everyone for the time being is speaking, and it is important that such books should be obtained with the least possible delay. And when works of second, and third, aiid fourth rate fiction, and such ephemeral books as those just mentioned are worn out, there is no necessity to replace them. Consequently a large portion I of the stock of a lending library need ! not lie. and should not be, permanent. 'l'here should, however, be an adequate I representation of the best English literature, and a good selection of the better class of biography, history, travel, sociology, and popu'iir science. Perhaps a I paper dealing with the principles on which j books should lie selected is not an unfitting i place foT a few remarks about the rejection ; of books on moral grounds. There has been much controversy about the advisa- ' bility and wisdom of excluding books that : are not openly obscene and that may be, i in the opinion of some, not in any way' I inimical to morality, dealing, nevertheless, with topics not altogether suitable for pub- ! lie. and general discission, or treating of : subjects harmless in themselves in a way that is not altogether unobjectionable. It has been said that public libraries do notexist to supply books merely for seventeen-ycar-cld school misses, and this is true. But it books are put into the library young people will have an opportunity of read i ing'them. and harm may result, and anyI thmg is preferable to the coiruption <;t !_youth. Furthermore, when there is so

much literature that is clean and wholesome, why procure that which has a sua pic:on of taint merely because some people may read it without fear of haiin? Considering that all the libraries of this country could advantageously spend iar more money than they have at their disposal in good and wholesome books, it is not too much to ask these persons who want to read books not suitable for universal reading to purchase them at their own expense. Tbey have no warrant for demanding that such books should be supplied at the expense of subscribers or ratepayers. The question now arises by whom and in what manner is the —Selection of Books—

to be made? The selection may be made either by some agent of the library in England, or by a selector or selectors in ibis country. There arc certain advantages attending the employment of an English agent. It is to be assumed that he is wisely chosen, and has a good knowledge of the requirements of ordinary libraries. He can secure books for a lending library as 60on as they issue from the press. A local selector may wish to obtain certain books, and hnds that the local booksellers have not imported any copies. By the time his order is sent to England and the book m iesponsa reaches New Zealand three months is wasted, a vast amount of impatience has been caused, and possibly interest m the hook has waned. The English selector also has ai! opportunity of seeing new books eminently suitable for a library that possibiy may not come under the noiice of local selectors at all. And so an English agent might make an excellent, selection of new books as they are published, lie is also in a good poiition for taking advantage of the cheap prices of eligible "remainders " before small 6tocks aro sold out. But it seems to mo that an English selector could at luoft be cmpluyed only in connection with a lending library. In the caso of ;> ref-Tcnce library there is no particular advantage attending the presence of a selector in England. And even in regard to lending libraries I am not certain that it is not more advantageous to select the books in New Zealand. The local selector knows his -public and its wants. He knows, too, the contents of Ids library. If th.' selection of books is made in England it will still be necessary to supplement it by orders sent from New Zealand. And so the local selector has the great advantage of fuller knowledge—an advantage, in my opinion, of such importance as to render l»c dl selection the preferable plan. Of local selection there are three possible varieties: in) Selection by the librarian only, (b) selection partly by tho librarian and partly by the governing body of the library, (c) (selection, by the governing body only. Tho hist method is rare, governing bodies usually being jealous of entrusting the librarian with an absolutely free hand in this matter. At one time this method was in use at the Wellington Public Library, hut tho Library Commiitee later on insisted on having a 'say in the selection of books. The second method of selection is not uncommon. It is at present observed in the ci-.L-e of the circulating department of the Canterbury Public Library. The librarian is empowered to spend a certain sum per month, and the remainder of the books required are selected by a email committee consisting of members of tho Board of Governors. The third method is also common, especially in the case of small librarier.. Now. 1 am personally in favor of giving the librarian

—Very Extensive Powers—in connection with the i-o.eclion of books both for lending and for reference libraries. He knows (or should know) better than anyone else the contents of the library under, his charge. He knows its weaknesses and deficiencies ; he knows where it needs to be, and whore it can lie, strengLhjned; he knows its most useful sections; he knows his readers and their wants. And so he can speak with an authority that cannot be claimed by anyone, else. It may be .said that the librarian may not be po.-seot-ed of the qualities that justify bin Oeii.g entrusted Hi.ii' oxfciLsivo powers of book-.-eioeiion. Ali I can say io that, if the librarian nas been wisely chosen, very extensive powers in connection witii his libraiy may Lie and (diould le conferred upon him. i iio important tiling is to chce.-e your librarian well. He should Ik; an educated man. with an ixlmsive knowledge of books and a deep love for them. 1 would claim that the first lequbile of a librarian, of greater importance even than excellent powers of organisation, is that he should be a lover of books. The good librarian, in addition in a wide knowledge of books, should have an enthusiastic desire to render the books in bis charge serviceable to the public in the hiiihe.-.t degree- pu.-sible. and should do his utmost to help the public in their use of the books. Ho should be able to judge of a g.;iH.l book, and to welcome infoimauon on Looks from whatever source it might come. A scholarly, courteous, approachable booklover of this sort, rt may safely be predicated, would make a selection of books Dial would be creditable in character ami useful to readers. Li the case of small libraries it may not be possible to have a librarian of this sort, but in any case the librarian should be as scholarly as possible, and. I think, should have some say in the selection of hooks. The power of making tho remainder of the selction is usually entrusted to a committee of the governing body. In the case of a --Municipal Library—like that of Wellington or Auckland, the ooverning body is a city or borough council, from which a library committee is chosen. But it may happen that not a single councillor has b*cn elected on account of his knowledge of library matters and interest in them, and 6ueh a committee may have very little justification for its existence as a library commitu-o. Sometimes it associates itself with an advicory committee of persons of iiterary and bookish tastes, and shows its witdom in doing so. In the case, of 6mall country libraries it sometimes happens that no one connected with the management h;is much sldll in choosing books. And if this Association wore a wealthy and powerful bodyit mi/ght carry out a work of real utility by issuing a'catalogue of an ideal small lending library of 1.000 or 2,000 or 3,000 volumes, and by issuing monthly or quarterly lists of new books smtablo for inclusion in such libraries. But I am afraid the time for this is not yet. One power should be placed in the hands of the librarian : that of purchasing either at auction or privately, up to a certain value, books that in his opinion should be obtained for his library at the price at which they are offered. The library will thus be in a. position occasionally to secure excellent books at very reasonable prices. This power implies that the librarian is a. good judge of the value of sccond-liand and of rare books, and I would include this knowledge of values among the qualifications of a good librarian. I have said nothing about tire obtaining of rare books and mairuscripts, because the acquisition of these by our local libraries must be by gift and not by purchase. The Auckland Public Library owes- the distinction which it enjoys among New Zealand libraries to the splendid gift of Sir George Grey. With regard to gifts, however, either the librarian or the governing body should reserve the right to refuse any book offered, though it is unwise to reject freely—the spring of bounty may be cheeked in ite flow, i Many people, it is true, only give to a library books that the second-hand dealer will not buy, and wish to gain by the gift a cheap reputation for generosity; but even in such, a case, no great harm is done by acceptance. There is always the possibility of a •juiet despatch to the destructor. One other joint

I should like to notice, and 'hen I have done. It may be asked whether the dioice of books is to be made in —Accordance with Public Taste — or not. Now, 1 do not think selectors should pay much attention to the public taste in books except by way of warning. Libraries fulfil two main functions : Firstly, they afford refreshment and recreation to minds fatigued with the strain of the duties of life. Secondly, they have, and might have in a greater degree, au important educational function. Now it is only by making a selection of a higher quality than the public wou'd make itself that tie public taste will bo improved 3iid a greater love for good literature brought about. And so I think but little attention should lia paid to the public taste. What the public wants, and what it needs, are not always the 6ame thing.