We send you herewith a brief statement of the position of the Book Buying Committee of the American Library Association in relation to the subject which we hope to discuss with you.
The relations between libraries and the book trade should be placed upon a business basis, and the discussion of them upon any other ground is not asked for by the libraries.
There is no question as to the desirability and the necessity of improving the conditions of the book trade, and we are in sympathy with the apparently successful efforts now being made toward that end.
The libraries ask that at this time of reorganization and radical changes a careful and just consideration should be given to their claims as large buyers of a special character. This has always been recognized in the past, and is the reason for the special discounts allowed them by the booksellers.
The library trade as a factor in the book business is of increasing importance. While it may not be considered as "Wholesale business" if, as it is claimed, that term implies the purchase in quantities of single titles and involves a business risk in such purchases, yet it differs so much more from the character of the retail trade that in the new adjustment of discounts there would seem to be little justice in charging against it the expenses of retail trade.
We believe that the amount of library trade, and its peculiar character warrant your association in having appointed a committee to consider its claims.
In dealing with libraries many of the largest items of the expense involved in the conduct of the retail business are wholly unnecessary. It can be conducted as well by dealers on back streets or in lofts as it can be by those who have the most luxurious and expensive stores to attract the retail trade, it does not call for the advertising of their wares by the dealers; all skill of salesmanship is eliminated, and no accounts have to be charged off because of failure.
It is claimed that there are other expenses as great, perhaps, as those mentioned, which are peculiar to the library trade, but in reality are not called for in the business of many libraries, and while, perhaps, they are customary, they are really necessary in but few cases, if any. These expenses would seem to be rather the result of bookselling methods than because of any peculiar demands of the business. These "bad features," as they were called in your recent convention, were pointed out as being
(a) Very slow pay,
(b) Its approval feature,