Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-07
GREAT
help TO MEN
IN THE CAMPS
Hundreds of Soldiers Learn
ing War Game on "Their
Own Hook"

Washington, I Aug. American
soldiers and sailors in training at
home or in service overseas are learn
ing the game of war ION their own
hook" This is the use they are
making Of the library war service,
conducted by the American Library
association. for the previous idea
ers-that the library service would
be mostly for recreational purposes is
being disproved by the heavy demand
for books on military and naval sci
ence and related subjects.
In nine months after almost humble
beginning, the library war service has
become the most universal library in
the world. In brief, It's accomplish
ments include SO camp library build
ings erected; Al large camp libraries
established: 81 .hospital and Red
Cross houses supplied with books; 212
libraries in service; 237 small military
camps and posts equipped with book
collections; 249 naval and marine
stations and vessels supplied with Ii
braries; 1928 branches and stations
placed in Y. NJ. c. A. and knights of
Columbus huts, barracks and mess
halls; 385,310,books shipped overseas;
411.505 books bought, most OF them
technical: 100000 gift books in serv-
ice.
Wherever there are American fight
ers. there is to be found the library,
and in the big military camps are nu-
merous branches and company t
tons. 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 its combat troops,
Its training areas and schools, lines
OF communication. including construc-
ton men, guards, stevedores and 9TH
ers. and the headquarters and de-
tached units, is reached by the library
war service. The service extends to
the navy with its vessels, ship bases,
mine bases and aviation stations, as
also to both the army and navy at
recreation eenters, in hospitals and in
captivity.
While the interest now is marked
In a serious study OF, war, the war
libraries are not confined to technical
books on that subject. Instead these
compose the smaller part of the IL
braries. and are largely the ones that
have been bought by the library as
ISOLATION. Medical and veterinary
books at hospitals are supplied by the
6AASS 6dS41CISu ny LHUUlIC
libraries throughout the country.
Book 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
lecttDns. Scrapbooks are useful for
bed patients and for ulitefates. A de-
manda 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. 81.
More than Tour million books were
collected during the gift campaign
conducted recently by public libraries
In every city Of the country. The ex-
act number reported to Headquarters
here was 3%,s96.054, but this does not
include thousands distributed by the
city libraries to nearby military, naval
and marine camps and stations, 81
which no record was sent to headquar-
OF gift books follows: Tos41 large
military camps and naval stations l.
SIT, 304; to 237 small military camps
which include AZ aviation schools and
repair depots, 244,784; to 116 small
naval stations, 136s4804 to, ~ marine
stations, 21,l83: to 116 vessels, &C.
029: to 81 hospitals, 29,503; TO six dis.
pAICn OMlCeb IOr overseas gn1pment
385,310; total 2,165,693.
The service Of the library aasocia.
ton welcomed by both military and
naval leaders. Vice Admiral aimi
says the book service Is OF great val.
ue In Increasing the contentnent 81
our forces." and General Pershlna
adds sthe scheme III scommendable
and the service 10 welcomeaf.. In thu
Army abroad those words from tht
commander are printed in the books
books com1 to Us overseai
from home, 5 Il
~ read Afhem issa privilege.
..To.Festorel then, promptly And I'M
The cost Tor tho library services
although many of IT. workers are vol
iunteers--haS been shout threeyauar
ters d million dollars ana the ID,
lture monthly expenditures arc expect
INA ~ ~ shout $4,000.