From the Girls' high school Handbook, 1924. Good citizenship and good manners in the use of books
Rules for the care of city property as represented in
Text books
School library books
Public library books
The way in which you treat books lent you by the city of New York is a sure indication of the kind of citizen you are.
The good citizen remembers that text books and library books are a privilege paid for by city taxes and that the books must be used by as large a number of persons as possible to justify the expenditure of the city's money. If you are the right kind of citizen you will try to pass these books on to others in as good condition as they come to you, and you will make good all damage and loss.
You should also remember that there is a code of manners with books as well as with knives and forks, the handkerchief, and other articles of daily use. It is assumed that no one would willingly violate that code any more than she would willingly do anything which would mark her as ill-bred.
Points on the proper treatment of text books and library books
How to open a new book
If a new book is quickly opened wide the binding at the back is likely to be broken. If a new book will not stay open do not force it. Forcing a book is likely to break its back, that is, to crack the coating of glue on back which is keeping the book in shape. This is bad because the stitching is then overworked in holding the book together and soon the stitches are broken and the book comes apart and has to be re-bound at a cost of nearly a dollar a volume. In a single year the cost to the city in re-binding our school library books is a heavy bill when students are careless.
To open a stiff new book properly hold it with the back down on a table, then press the front cover down until it touches the table, next the back cover, holding all the leaves first with one hand and then with the other. Then press down first a few leaves at the back, then a few leaves at the front until the book lies open in the middle. Do this repeatedly until the stiffness is removed.
How to turn the pages of a book
a. Handle the leaves at the outer edges only and turn them at the upper right-hand corner.
b. Do not moisten fingers to turn page.
How to take down books from the shelves
Do not pull them out by the top part of the binding at the back. This is easily broken. Take them by the strong part of the back upon which you can get a good grip. If books are tightly wedged in on full shelves, push in each of the books on either side of the book you want and this enables you to take firm hold of the back to pull it out. After lifting a book from the shelves be sure to push up the book support at the right hand of the shelf to keep the books standing upright. It is ruinous to leave books leaning over as it weakens the binding and makes them come apart or get out of shape. Books leaning over also give a disorderly appearance to the room.
Cleanliness
No one likes to use a soiled book. Hands should be clean and dry when books are handled.
Do not eat over books, or leave them in kitchen or on dining-room table.
Do not leave books on the ground, on the floor or any place where they are likely to be soiled.
Keep books away from babies and young children, dogs, etc.
Do not moisten fingers on lips or tongue to turn pages. If a person has a contagious disease his finger might transfer disease germs to the book, and if some one later reads the book and moistens his fingers he might have the same disease.
Marking the place
Do not use anything thicker than a thin strip of paper, cardboard or cloth to mark your place. Anything thicker placed in a book is likely to break the stitches and make it come apart.
Do not mark your place by laying a book open, face down on a table.
Do not turn down the corner of a leaf to mark your place. This cracks the paper and breaks it and makes "dog-eared" books.
Marking books with pen or pencil
Never make any mark whatsoever with pen or pencil in any book that is not your own personal property. This means that notes, pictures, underlining, etc., should never be made in text books or library books.
Using books as portfolios
Do not use books for carrying pencils, rulers, compasses, and other thick objects. They break the backs of books.
Heat injures books
Do not lay a book in a hot place as on a radiator or near a stove. Heat dries and makes the glue more likely to crack. It also causes bindings to warp and paper to become brittle.
Moisture hurts books
Keep a book dry. On rainy or muddy days wrap a book tightly in paper if you have no brief case or bag in which to carry it. Do not leave a book in a damp place. Do not handle with moist hands.
Rough handling hurts books
Handle books gently. Do not throw a book or let it fall. Do not strap a book tightly or pick it up by one lid or lean on it when it is open. All these things strain the binding of a book.
Mending books
If a library book is damaged while you have it out, do not try to mend it. Amateur mending is likely to make the matter worse. To mend a book properly requires experience and skill and sometimes the service of a professional bookbinder. Call the attention of the librarian to any damage when you bring the book back.
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