Page 32 - Training for Librarianship Library Work As a Career

TRAINING FOR LIBRARIANSHIP

the original. Better prices can be secured on
quantity purchases ; consequently, where sev-
eral copies of a single work are required, it is
best to order these at one time. Buying
through a local dealer presents at times ad-
vantages in service and in price. Where deal-
ing through a local bookseller is, however,
unsatisfactory, resort may be had to dealers
in the various book centers. \Miatever the
method pursued, it must ever be remembered
that the first task of a library, if it wishes to
serve and exert a beneficial influence on its
community, is to select its books carefully.
In the selection of books, no one person's
judgment can be the sole guide. Competent
reviews, digests and abstracts may prove
helpful, but reference may also be had to the
opinions or advice of specialists. Certain
publications also serve as a direct help.
Among these may be mentioned the Pub-
lishers' Weekly, which notes all current
American publications, the Publishers'
Trade List Annual, which notes publications
in print, the Cumulative Book Index, which
notes books as they appear from month to
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