By Walter A. Briscoe (Grafton & Co.).
Some excerpts from Press notices are appended:
GENERAL NOTICES.
“Public Libraries and their uses certainly need to be forced on the attention of the public a great deal more than they are, and these very practical chapters on methods of advertisement by the Nottingham City Librarian ought to be of great service. Posters, articles, leaflets, pamphlets, announcements thrown on the Cinema screen, and other methods are discussed with many facsimile examples and designs, specimen paragraphs and articles, etc.”—Times Literary Supplement.
“‘Publicity is the best policy,’ says Mr. Walter A. Briscoe in his book entitled ‘Library Advertising,’ a work designed to advance the Library Movement by every means possible. Sections deal with Publicity methods for Public Libraries, Rural library schemes, Library work with children, the Cinema and Library, etc., and the author discusses the problem of bringing home to the public the need for an efficient Library Service from an entirely new standpoint.”—The Publishers’ Circular.
“I am inclined to think that Mr. Walter A. Briscoe is right in holding that the best and fullest use is not made of such institutions, because ‘the people have not yet acquired the idea of thinking big about libraries—and until the populace get the Library idea progress cannot be spelt with a capital P.’ Mr. Briscoe suggests the remedy for this in ‘Library Advertising’: ‘We must proclaim our libraries from the hills, so to speak,’ he writes, ‘from the advertisement hoardings, if necessary. These may be new ideas not acceptable to the conservative mind. Obscurantist methods are out of date, however.’ And so he offers specimens of posters, hints for ‘publicity’ campaigns, etc. Hitherto, I am afraid, Mr. Carnegie and Sir Henry Tate have become better known and appreciated than the libraries they founded, but Mr. Briscoe’s plans would certainly do something to alter this....”—The Westminster Gazette.
PROFESSIONAL PAPERS.
“This timely volume has for its motto: ‘We often refer to the Public Library Movement. Let us therefore MOVE.’ Mr. Briscoe designs the book to furnish suggestions to his readers, most of whom must be half convinced of the necessity for this propaganda which is here so stoutly advocated. The stimulating powers of this work should be great; every activity of the ordinary man furnishes an excuse for reminding him that there is a book in the public library about it. The volume is dedicated to the President of the Library Association, who says: ‘I have no doubt at all that the book will fill a very useful function in the work of public libraries.’ We also learn that French libraries are preparing for a public discussion of the book, a very gratifying tribute to its ‘stimulating’ properties.”—Library Association Record.
“The comprehensive title of this book by the fertile and vigorous chief librarian of Nottingham is almost sufficiently descriptive of its contents. For many years past Mr. Briscoe has advocated advertisement on a bold and persistent scale, and in his book proceeds to show us methods of locomotion which I believe will be suggestive to most librarians. As a fervent believer in the necessity for wide and persistent advertising for libraries, I recommend this book to my fellow-librarians. They ought to read it.”—The Library World.
“We are convinced that in advertising is to be found the future success of public libraries. Nowhere are libraries used as they should be and in very few places their value and uses appreciated as they might be. Mr. Briscoe has dealt with one of the two classes of library advertising, and has dealt with it in a practical manner. The book is full of hints and suggestions for the librarian, who must necessarily be his own publicity agent. We heartily congratulate Mr. Briscoe on what he has done....”—The Librarian.