It is to the interests of the library to foster friendly relations with the local booksellers. We believe that together they can be of more service than when working against each other; it is good for the community; we believe that it is also to the interests of the booksellers to keep the library trade, not only because of sentimental reasons, but because it pays. Not only are the library accounts practically guaranteed and the requirements of display, advertising and salesmanship minimized, as we have already stated, but the library is often the only buyer of many books which are received by the booksellers. No other one customer keeps the stock moving to such an extent as the library. None other wears out books and calls for so many duplications after the period of popular demand, taking from the bookseller's shelves books which he need not re-stock. Much of this kind of trade prevents actual loss which the bookseller would have without the library customer.
We are not at all convinced that the booksellers are losers in the library trade, nor do we wish to be placed in the position of receiving special favors. The libraries like to feel that the booksellers are giving them fair prices so they will not be constantly shown by out-of-town dealers how much cheaper they might have bought their new books by waiting a brief time after publication.
Wide margins of profit always lead to the cutting of prices unless the trade is absolutely controlled, which is not the condition in the book trade at this time.
We wish to be in a position to urge all libraries to buy of the regular dealers in their localities, and trust that your committee may be able to see some way of recommending further concessions to the library trade.
Answer to the Foregoing Statement
Answer to the library Committee on Relation with Booksellers, as proposed by Charles E. Butler, Brentano's, New York.
1. We agree that the relations between librarians and booksellers should be on a business basis, and that there is no question as to the desirability of improving the condition of the book trade.
2. We are in hearty sympathy with the desire of the libraries, that a careful and just consideration should be given to their claims for better discount as large buyers collectively of a special character.
3. It is the most earnest desire of the book trade to be absolutely fair and just toward the libraries. We fully and most sincerely believe that the libraries would not for a moment desire or expect that their purchases should be made at the sacrifice of a trade, whose very existence depends on what reasonable profit can be made by them in their business transactions.
4. The libraries believe that the booksellers can make better discounts than they do now, if they carry on their business along the lines indicated by them, while the booksellers claim that the present condition of buying and selling prohibits them from making a profit, but is actually productive of loss, and that the method proposed by the libraries is not possible.