Evening journal., 1918-02-01
EQUIP LIBRARY FOR
CAMP MEADE MEN
Arthur L. Bailey Returns
From Maryland Canton
ment After Work
MEN EAGER FOR
READING MATTER

Eager for an the reading matter that
Is within their reach. lctlonal and tech
nical the soldiers cncamped az Camp
Meade. Maryland, are literally besles-
ing the. library recently established at
the camp under the direction Of Arthur
L. Bailey Librarian of the Wilmington
Institute Free Library, and chairman OF
The finance committee of the American
Library Association Mr.. Bailey began
tho work Of establishing the library on
November i2. and returned on Tuesday
night after the completion Of his task.
When Mr. Bailey went 70 the camp,
ihc construction Of the library building
had only been commenced, and the
building was not ready for occupancy
until December i3. Even then tho work
of the library could not be done as
smoothly as possible, as various tx
lures for the building and the shelves,
which had been ord ed before the start
ins Of building the library, had not ar
rived. The books, which then num-
bered about 1000, had 30 be stacked
up in piles, necessiistlng a very crude
system Of loanns the books. requir-
ing much more work than necessary
10 has been only IN the past three or
four weeks that the work could be car
ried on wi h facility.
Until the completion Of the library
building, Mr. Bailey had his headquar-
ters IN the Y. NJ c. A. building.
There are about 10000 volumes In the
camp library AZ the present time. All
Of the flctlon and many other useful
books have been donated. The library
association purchased 500 new titles
and copies of these. In accordance with
the popularity Of the books, are distrib-
uted 70 the Libraries Of the variou.
/ camps Of the country.
/ u is planned 20 place In the Y. VI. G
/ A. and X. Of c. buildings. and the hos
pitfalls In camps. small collections OF
7 books which will be changed from
/ time 10 time. Between 100 and 80
I books are on the Y. NJ. c. A. shelve:
at present. and this number will short
| ly be more than doubled u Is pro
posed % place between 50 and 100 vol
umes in each Of the go barracks. Tt
carry out the plans, about 10000 book
will be required at Camp Meade, an,
/ this fact Is impressed on the public
/ The public must contribute 10 the IL
brary 20 enable them 10 provide SUI
flcien, books for the soldiers who ar
/ clamoring for reading. Al present onl'
1900 volumes at most are In sight, Nj
Bailey states.
II Is intended that no man VIII hav
70 go outside OF his company street 9
get books but because Of the lack q
books this will hardly be possible 70
some time. Il is believed. Because
the embargo, 1900 books, consigned
. the camp are tied Up in Philadelphia
Efforts are also being made 70 me-
individual demands for books, especial
for those soldiers who are preparll
+ for exan1inations for commissions
the army The officers training scho
sent 20 the library A list Of p bool
, that would be Of great value % the 4
] ture oflcers. and these books were In
mediately provided.
The soldiers In many cases, have
walk two miles across the camp 10 g
books. but many are willing TO take th
long tramp. u is said that Sc out
25 soldiers ia a barracks are reGul.
patrons OF the library.
Mr.. Bailey points out that The moder
army camp is q great educational ir
stituiion. and that the soldiers ar
anxious 20 set ahead and study the sui
jects that they Will have 10 confront.
Mr.. Bailey next week will so 10 Ne'
York 20 attend the audit OF th
si.o0o00O fund raised for the arm
Libraries.