LIBRARY CENSORS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 9

LIBRARY CENSORS.

COMPETENCE AND COOD FAITH. A SECRET TRIBUNAL. Tiie recent action of tho circulating libraries in restricting tho circulation, first, of Mr. Hall Game's new novel at tho beginning of-August, and more recently of tho novels of Mr. W. B. Maxwell and Mr. C'ompton Mackenzie, has once more called tho attention of publishers, authors, and readors to the whole question of library management, writes "Er-Librarian" in a recent issue of "The Times." In the closing weeks of 1909 tho six principal lending librarios astonished the public by issuing a circular in which they announced that in their own interests and in order to satisfy the wishes of their clients they had decided "not to place in circulation any book which, by reason of tho personally scandalous, libellous, immoral, or otherwise disagreeable nature of its contents, is in our opinion likely to srove5 rove offensive to any considerable section of our subscribers." Behind the Scenes. It had been known for somo time to those ip. the book trade and to persons behind tho scenes in library management that, owing to tho activity of' a small, self-appointed committee, consisting of one or two clergymen and othors, whose knowledge of the book worla and of the reading public was perhaps not quite equal to their moral fervour, a doterhiined attempt would bo made to set up scome sort of censorship of literature. There had been isolated prosecutions in respect of "obBoeno" books and frequent visits paid to libraries by unofficial vigilanco officers. But the public at largo was taken by surpriso and the outcry which followed the announcement of the libraries caused them vory soon to modify their policy. For tho absolute ban foreshadowed by their circular they substituted a.polioy of "blocking" the circulation of such books as they in their wisdom regarded as harmful. These offending works wero kept out of sight and only supplied to such customers as made determined efforts to obtain them. Any ono well acquainted with the library publio will at onco realise that, as it is very largely led by the eye and singularly open to suggestion, the effect of such a policy was to restrict in a very real sense tlie demand for a book so treated. The Power of Selection. •The authors who suffered wore not at first amongst the most prominent. But tho libraries, lulled into security by a comparative cessation of protest on the part of the public, havo grown bolder, and there is no question now (says Ex-Librarian") that authors are faced with a situation of somo difficulty. On behalf of the libraries it is urged that they, being tradesmen and not public servants, are under no obligation to purvey waros which they do not wish to purvey, and will suffer no penalty except that common to all unsuccessful traders—namely, loss of custom —if they fail to satisfy thoir subscribers. Furthermore, they can urge that, in accordance with recent legal decisions, they must be able, if brought into Court on a charge cf publishing, in the sense of circulating, a libel, to provo to the satisfaction of Judge and jury that they excrciso "reasonable enro in tho selection of their books." This in itself pro-supposes a powor of "selection" and absolves them from any obligation to give to the publio every book published. Here, no doubt, they,are on safo ground. No one denies their right to protect themselves against tlio law of libel or against polico proceedings for circulating any, work dofinitely "obscene." But thov havo gone far beyond tliis, and though no doubt they may shelter themselves behind tho vagueness which attaches to'the legal definition of an "obscene" book, thoy cannot but be conscious that they have, in fact, banned, 1 or restricted, works which have received just and discriminating praise from literary critics in tho columns of loading journals. Library Experts, The question, therefore, for tlio publio resolves itself into this—Do thoy wish to be protected from the chance perusal of anything "scandalous, libellous, immoral, or otherwiso disagreeable" by tho action of the libraries? If so, they are satisfied that tho committee of library "experts" who will decido what books fall into these categories is competent to perform its duties and perfectly single-minded in its performance of them? To tho first question the publio can be trusted, to give its own answer; about the second it may well bo doubtful, becauso tho library "experts," with natural modesty and justifiable diffidence, prefer to shroud themselves in obscurity. Who constitute this secret tribunal, to which readers, author's, and publishers .'must all equally bow? Probably tho publio will never know, and even tho authors and publishers cam only indulge in surmises. One tiling alono is certain. It does not number among its .members any of tho leaders of literary triticism, for whoso judgment the publicaccustomed to look to the leading journals. Such indications of the constitution of tho committee as have from timo to time been gleaned from tho reports of libel cases can hardly be said to have reassured tho literary world, and both authors iwid publishers,_ who stand to lose heavily by the action of the libraries, may be pardoned if they press for information as to the, competence of theso self-appointed censors.