Perkins Article

This article is from the same Department of the Interior book as Quincy’s article that we read for week 2 and they have some similarities but also some differences. When I read the introductory paragraphs I thought (and was hoping) that he was going to endorse novels whole heartedly but he gives only qualified support. Both authors spent a good portion of their articles on the issue of novels and fiction in the Library showing that it was a serious question at the time. According to what we’ve read in class so far most libraries saw their purpose as providing moral uplift and meeting the public demand for popular fiction among other things. At the time, these two goals probably seemed at odds with each other in the case of popular fiction. The second sentence under the heading “Choice of Books” says, “It is vain to go on the principle of collecting books that people ought to read,” but then Perkins goes on to contradict himself by naming specific authors and titles (the Decameron!) that he feels should be excluded from the library but like Quincy he doesn’t really offer other guidelines for discriminately choosing books.

Perkins’ article does hit on some ideas that seem more reasonable and are in agreement with my perception of the contemporary library. He emphasizes that at the very least libraries need to put the public’s demand for entertaining literature over the scholar’s desire for a “treasure house.” Perkins does see a place for scholarship and research at a public library but it shouldn’t be the primary concern. Perkins recognizes that getting people to use the library and helping the public to form regular reading habits, regardless of what, is key.