In the early nineteen-eighties (I think it was), the International Paper Company paid for a series of two-page articles in the "Power of the Printed Word" series to appear in some large American magazines. At the bottom of each was their name and logo, an offer to send you free reprints, and this messgae:
Today, the printed word is more vital than ever. Now there is more need than ever for all of us to read better, write better, and communicate better.
International Paper offers this series in the hope that, even in a small way, we can help.
I don't remember where I saw them, but I wrote away and they sent me the whole set. I have fourteen — I don't know if I ever lost any over the years, but I don't think so.
James Michener did "How to Use a Library." Here's a picture of him jotting down call number at the card catalogue, saying, "Every time I go to the library, I make a beeline to the card catalog. Learn to use it. It's easy."
These are the fourteen articles I have:
- James Michener, How to Use a Library
- Kurt Vonnegut, How to Write with Style
- Steve Allen, How to Enjoy the Classics
- Russell Baker, How to Punctuate
- Erma Bombeck, How to Encourage Your Child to Read
- Bill Cosby, How to Read Faster
- James Dickey, How to Enjoy Poetry
- Malcolm Forbes, How to Write a Business Letter
- John Irving, How to Spell
- George Plimpton, How to Make a Speech
- Jane Bryant Quinn, How to Read an Annual Report
- Tony Randall, How to Improve Your Vocabulary
- Jerrold D. Simon ("psychologist and career development specialist at Harvard Business School"), How to Write a Resume
I made a PDF of How to Use a Library but the quality turned out fairly low, so here are higher-quality images of the two pages: