hands of young people. Other books, some people think, should not be
read by young people. Other books, some people think, should not be
in a public library at all. A good course to follow in regard to such
books is to consider the temper of your community and put into the
library as many of them as are noteworthy in a literary way as your
public and your resources permit.

In other departments follow at first the guidance of some one of the
good book lists now available.

Other things being equal, American scientific books are preferable
to those by foreign authors. In all departments select the latest
editions, and, at first, the recent book rather than the older book.

The proportion of books in the different departments of knowledge must
vary greatly in different libraries. The following is a good general
guide:

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