The Cordova daily times., 1918-08-12
MILLIONS BOOKS FIR USE. 1T MEN
 IN J. 5. SERVICE

W ASfil N't | oN, NNH. lZ.-AileTltdn soldiers and sailors in training at home or in the service overseas are own hook" This Is the use they are making of the library war service, conducted by the American Library Association. for the previous idea and it was that of some library work ers that the library service would be mostly for recreational purposes, is being disproved by the heavy de- mand for books on military and naval science and related subjects.
 In nine months after a most hum ble beginning the library war service has become the most universal library in the world In brief. its accomplish ments include 36 camp library build ings erected 4 large camp libraries established 91 hospital and Red Cross houses supplied with books, PIP libra ries in service. 237 small military camps and posts equipped with book collections. 249 naval and marine sta tions and vessels supplied with libra ries. 1,323 branches and stations placed in Y. NJ. C. A. and Knights of II Columbus huts, barracks and mess halls, 3S5.310 books shipped overseas, II All .505 books bought most of them technical, and 2.100.OO0 gift books m service.
 Wherever there are American fight. CTS. there is to be found the library, i and In the big military camps are numerous branches and company sta. tions. Even American prisoners of war in Germany are not neglected by the library service. for arrangements have been completed in Switzerland for serving them through that coun. try. The army, with it's combat troops. it's training areas and schools, lines of communication. including con. struction men, guards. stevedores and l others. and the headquarters and de taChed units. is reached by the library war service. The service extends toI the navy, with it's vessels. ship bases. mine bases and aviation stations. asI also to both the army and navy at recreation centers. in hospitals and in captivity
 While the interest now is marked in serious study of the war, the war libraries are not confined to technical books on that subject Instead these compose the smaller part of the libra ries, and are largely the ones that have been bought by the library asso- citation Medical and veterinary books i. at hospitals are supplied by the sur geon general Other books are pro. vided from gifts gathered by public 1 libraries throughout the country. Books to aid vocational training and scientific studies usually are pur- chased Recreational reading, fiction. war books. history. biography and travel are supplied from the gift col lection Scrap books are useful for bed patients and for illiterates. A de. 1 mand also has been supplied for books to classes in French and to classes of men with 'an imperfect knowledge of English. Magazines in endless num- Der are added monthly.
 More than four million books were collected during the gift campaignI conducted recently by public libra ] ries in every city of the country. The exact number reported to headquar- ters here was 3S96.O54. but this does not include thousands distributed by the city libraries to nearby military. naval and marine camps and stations, of which no record was sent to head button of gift books follows To 41 large military camps and naval sta. tions. 1,317,304; to 237 small military camps. which include 47 avationi schools and repair depots, 244.784; to, ll6 small naval stations, l35,4S0 toI 17 marine stations. 21,lS3; to ll6 yes. sells, 32,O29; to 9l hospitals, 29,503 to dispatch offices for overseas ship ment. 3S5,310 Total, 2,165,593
 The service of the library associa- ton is welcomed by both military and naval leaders. Vice Admiral Sims says the book service is of great value in increasing the contentment of our forces" and General Pershing adds. the scheme Is commendable and the service is welcome" In the army abroad these words from the commander are printed in the books: These books come to use overseas from home.
 ITO read them is a privilege