Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-12
BOOKS WANTED
FOR SOLDIERS

of Augusta, who is also the secretary
Of the Maine Library Commission,
Saturday sent out an appeal to every
| librarian in Maine to forward books to
the soldiers and sailors as soon as
| possible
LAS YOU know, the war department
has asked the American Library As
ISOLATION to assume the responsibility
of providing adequate library facil-
tiles for all environments and training
camps says Librarian Dunnack
Doubtless you have received COM
munications from headquarters and
also read the special notices which
have had in the public press requesting
YOU to interest your local public in
collecting books for general war IL
bra rics. At this time. it may rot be
out OF place il I again call your at
tention to the importance Of this work
and the urgent need Of securing as
many books as possible in the COM
munity.
Permit me to call YOUR attention to
the classes Of books needed:
Good stories. hooks of adventure
sea stories. detective stories historical
novels. and collections Of short stor-
les. especially humorous ones. and
such authors AS kipling, Doyle, Nc
Cutchaon, q. Henry. Stockton, Bind
loss. Harrington. Honllinson Smith.
onpenheim. etc. have been found pop
u'ar authors with the men.
Stirring poetry and drama is also
needed. IS we'll as books nv Kiping,
Service, Masefeld. Moves. etc.
Foreign language study books. es-
reciaIly French erammars. and die
tfonaries arc needed possibly Wore
than any other mont fiction hooks. In
one camp nearly one fifth Of the men
are studying French
Books of travel and history. espec
tally OF those countries at war and
lives Of heroes, great men and women.
are needed
Technical books on aviation wire
less tele2ra nfy. subma rines. automo-
hiles, signalling. first aid and hygiene
are other classes that are needed
Ethical books on patriotism. good
citizenship. why America Is at war
with good non sectarian devotional
Looks. are wanted. All grades of men
must he helped hv these library books.
for the Cneducated. good books for
boys. for some of the men have never
acquired the reading habit There
must he books which are not over
their heads. and not too 'highbrow.'
Fresh. attractive magazines are
greatly desired. especially magazines
Of the character of the Century. Har-
per's, Outlook. Literary Digest. Popu-
lar Mechanics. Popular Science
Monthly. the American Magazine. Sci
y.1tif1N American Cot
Post. etc. The latest authoritative d.
rections are that no magazine over
three months old. except picture and
Joke magazines. be shipped. All 9TH
ors can be sold and the proceeds sent
to NJ. s. Dudgeon. Public Library.
Washington, d. c., for the purcha SO
~ new maya zines.
IAN Of the leading countries at war
in Europe have found books and good
reading matter absolutely essential
for the morale OF the men and millions
Of books have been collected in the
European countries at war to he sent
TO the men in the field. the training
camps and hospitals. Every country
has found that the men will fight bet
ter and endure hSrdships better IL
their minds are trained and their spir-
its refreshed. and books play a most
important part in this work. The tit-
liens of Maine in responding 20 this
appeal will be increasing the fighting
strength Of our soldier boys
Almost every southern camp now
needs books, and within two or three
weeks every book which the libraries
OF the country can furnish should he
IN the camps. Freights are slow, and
II seems as II every book in every H.
brary ought TO begin to move either
toward camp or a selected concen-
-tration point within "a hours after you
receive this communication.
ut n absolutely necessary that Won
collect and send these books AZ once
Ship them by freight prepaid to the
Boston Public Library. In each case
freight must he prepaid. sincerely
hope that each local library will at
least he willing 20 contribute the small
sum necessary for the freight. How
ever. the need for the hooks IL so urg-
ent that IL you And Il impossible tn se-
cure the money from the trustees Of
your library or among your local peo-
pie TOR this purpose. pay the bill your
self. secure the receipts and forward
10 NJ Dudgeon, Public Library,
washington. u. G..