tempting boys to be what they should be—giving them in wholesome form what they want—that is the purpose and power of scouting. to help parents and leaders of youth secure books boys like best that are also best for boys, the boy scouts of america organized every boy's library. the books included, formerly sold at prices ranging from $1.50 to $2.00 but, by special arrangement with the several publishers interested, are now sold in the every boy's library edition at $1.00 per volume.

the books of every boy's library were selected by the library commission of the boy scouts of america, consisting of george f. bowerman, librarian, public library of the district of columbia; harrison w. craver, director, engineering societies library, new york city; claude g. leland, superintendent, bureau of libraries, board of education, new york city; edward f. stevens, librarian, pratt institute free library, brooklyn, n.y., and franklin k. mathiews, chief scout librarian. only such books were chosen by the commission as proved to be, by a nation wide canvas, most in demand by the boys themselves. their popularity is further attested by the fact that in the every boy's library edition, more than a million and a quarter copies of these books have already been sold.

we know so well, are reminded so often of the worth of the good book and great, that too often we fail to observe or understand the influence for good of a boy's recreational reading. such books may influence him for good or ill as profoundly as his play activities, of which they are a vital part. the needful thing is to find stories in which the heroes have the characteristics boys so much admire—unquenchable courage, immense resourcefulness, absolute fidelity, conspicuous greatness. we believe the books of every boy's library measurably well meet this challenge.

boy scouts of america,

[signed] james e. west

chief scout executive.