The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1918-10-31
LIBRARY WAR SERVICE

| TO THE CITIZENS OF w ALDO COUNTY.
When the United States became a
beligerent in the present great war, every
activity in the country, social and indus
trial, loyalty fastened to offer aid in the
way it was best fitted to serve. Librari
ans, among others, heard the call, and
through their national organization, the
American Library Association, at once
began work which has reached every
training camp and transport, and sent
cheer to every hospital.
The war mission of the American Lii
brary Association is to furnish and dis
tribute books to all men in the service.
1t has built and equipped 43 Libraries of
in this country, 315 in the smaller camps
and posts, 148 naval and marine stations
and $50 Libraries overseas. Besides
these, which are under the manage
ment of the A. L. A, more than 1880
branch Libraries and stations have been
established in the Y. M. c. A. huts,
canteens, club rooms and hostess houses.
There is a deck library ON every trans
port, and $50 ships have special libraries.
All this work has been made possible by
the money given by the people OF the
United States in the drive last year when
the American Library Association col
lected more than a million and half dol
lars. when making an effort to acquire
one million.
About 3, 500, 900 books, gifts of the
American people, are in circulation among
men in the service in this country and
overseas The recreatlonal books OF
fiction were given by individuals, the
little mite in each community, totalllng
great supply. But we hear from the
training camps that the men wish tech
nical books on electricity, engineering,
carpentry and kindred subjects, and
these are bought from the library fund,
the publishers selling all books at cost OF
production.
Every report from Belfast boys who
have visited the camp libraries tells US
that they are busy places, the boys show
ing their appreciation by taking advant-
age of the opportunities offered. Some
are studying professional text books for
advancement in the service or IN busl-
ness after the war. Others are devoting
time to the French language, which per-
baps they neglected in school. And there
are many of whom the public seldom
think, boys who left school too early.
who can scarcely read English, who are
the especial care of the attendants as
educational problems.
The Belfast Free Library as its contrl-
button to work for the men in the service
has forwarded more than 600 books given
bv people of Belfast and neighboring
towns since May. These books were all
new fresh copies and when packed made
handsome present to our soldiers. More
books are coming all the time and we
hope to keep the boxes travelling as long
as there are men in camps and on ships
Next month everyone in the United
States will be given an opportunity to
assist in raising the sum of Sl7O, DOC, QUO
to be devoted to the welfare of the SOL
diers and sailors. The United War Work
Campaign, sanctioned by President Will
son in recognition of the value of services
rendered, is to raise money for the sup
port of the seven organizations, which
have done so much to keep up the health
and spirits of our boys in the service. The
American Library Association is fortu-
nate to have as its chairman for Waldo
county Lynwood B. Thompson of Belfast,
who has already begun plans for the
campaign. 1t is hoped that such CO.
operation may be effected in the coming
drive that, as in other campaigns for the
support of the war, Waldo county will
be one of the first counties in the State
to show its loyalty to the boys fighting
in France by subscribing its quota.
ANNIE LEONORA BARR,
Librarian of Belfast Free Library.
October 25 1918