Rules for Readers

"Once on a time a Library Book was overheard talking to a little boy who had just borrowed it. The words seemed worth recording and here they are:

Please don't handle me with dirty hands. I should feel ashamed to be seen when the next little boy borrowed me.

Or leave me out in the rain. Books can catch cold as well as children.

Or make marks on me with your pen or pencil. It would spoil my looks.

Or lean on me with your elbows when you are reading me. It hurts.

Or open me and lay me face down on the table. You would not like to be treated so.

Or put in between my leaves a pencil or anything thicker than a single sheet of thin paper. It would strain my back.

Whenever you are through reading me, if you are afraid of losing your place, don't turn down the corner of one of my leaves, but have a neat little Book Mark to put in where you stopped, and then close me and lay me down on my side so that I can have a good comfortable rest.'"

With thanks to Larry Nix and the Wisconsin Library Heritage Center for the link, the text, and the image (an illustration of a "Maxon bookmark" is from a library supply catalog of the period.)