| Author |
Bostwick, Arthur E. (Arthur Elmore), 1860-1942 |
| Title |
A Librarian's Open Shelf: Essays on Various Subjects
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 54.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Contents |
Do readers read? -- What makes people read? -- The passing of the possessive; a study of book titles -- Selective education -- The uses of fiction -- The value of association -- Modern educational methods -- Some economic features of libraries -- Simon Newcomb: America's foremost astronomer -- The companionship of books -- Atomic theories of energy -- The advertisement of ideas -- The public library, the public school, and the social center movement -- The systematization of violence -- The art of re-reading -- History and heredity -- What the flag stands for -- The people's share in the public library -- Some tendencies of American thought -- Drugs and the man -- How the community educates itself -- Clubwomen's reading -- Books for tired eyes -- The magic casement -- A word to believers.
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| Credits |
Produced by Ted Garvin, Barbara Tozier and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team.
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| Summary |
"A Librarian's Open Shelf: Essays on Various Subjects" by Arthur E. Bostwick is a collection of essays written in the early 20th century. The work reflects the author's experience and insights as a librarian, exploring various themes related to reading, education, and the influence of libraries on society. Through a range of topics, Bostwick examines the role of reading in personal and social development and considers the changing nature of literature and educational systems of his time. The opening of the collection sets the stage for this exploration, as Bostwick poses critical questions about readers and reading habits. He shares a particular anecdote about a frequent library user who, despite borrowing numerous books, never manages to finish one. This raises fundamental questions about engagement and interest in literature. The author suggests that a lack of sustained interest is a significant factor in readers' failure to complete books, urging a need to stimulate genuine curiosity rather than mere obligation. Thus, the beginning explores underlying psychological and societal influences on reading, framing the essays as a broader inquiry into the value of literature and libraries in fostering an informed and engaged public. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Education
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| Subject |
Books and reading
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| Subject |
Libraries
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
13430 |
| Release Date |
Sep 10, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 18, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
126 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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