Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-09
DOUGHBOYS HUNGRY
FOR GOOD READING
American Library Association
Supplies Soldiers With
Books.

One might suppose on the impulse
of the moment II an answer was given
without thought. that the men In the
ranks read only entertaining books,
books that will amuse and vary the
hard work Of camp life or the danger
of the trenches
The American Library association, /
however, now is prepared 10 answer
this question with the intelligence
that comes from supplying the men
daily with reading matter. There Is
rs much diversity in the books read
by soldiers as by men outside the camp
and, possibly more.
The greatest demand is for books on
military tactics Then follow Ill sorts
of requests for other technical books.
as, for instance. In one camp In one
day came requests for books on coffee
cultivation, woolens, refrigeration. cold
storage, transportation of food ma
terial, medical books. sanitation and The
public health, psychology. shorthand
and typewriting, shipbuildlng, automo-
biles and business letter writing
Fiction Is popular, with the books
written by Zane Gray In the lead. Part
Of Gruy's popularity in the camps Is
due 70 the fact that there are so many
Western men In camp who know the
country he describes perfectly. Thou
sands Of the soldiers, and even officers,
retain their love for boys books, of
which there Is a shortage. They say
they rest the brain, and so Henty's,
Barbour's and Tomlinson's boy stories
ore popular.
With all this diversity Of tastes II Is
not an easy matter to supply the mil
lions of men with the reading they
demand, ana so the American Library
/ association must meet this need by
purchasing the educational and tech
meal books asked for.
To date the work Of the American
Library War service can be SUMMED
as follows:
Forty-one library buildings In OPP
Grafton.
Forty-three large camp libraries es-
tablishcd.
One hundred and forty-three hospi-
| tails and Red Cross homes supplied.
Two hundred and forty-three llbrar-
/ les maintained In service.
Three hundred and fifteen military
camps and posts equipped with books.
Three hundred and fifty points over
seas supplied with books
-Four hundred and six naval and ma
rine stations supplied with libraries.
One thousand five hundred and for
tyseven branches and stations located
In recreation huts, barracks and mess
! halls.
Six hundred thousand books pur-
chased, largely technical.
One million, thirty thousand. four
hundred and flfty-eight books shipped
overseas.
Three million, one hundred eleven
thousand, five hundred and ten gift
books placed In service.
Five million magazines distributed
The work OF the American Library
association, meeting certain needs of
the men as 1t does, Is only part OF
the great work being done by the seven
welfare organizations Of the United
War campaign. the Y. NJ. G. A., Y. w
: G. A., Knights Of Columbus, Jewish
: Welfare board, War Camp Community
: service, American Library association
and the Salvation Army. And thu,
these organizations may carry on thell
work Of mercy and service they are
asking that the people Of this country
help them with $1700O0,000, small
matter when placed beside the help
fulness. both In this country and over
seas Of the seven branches Of the great
candlestick Of United War Work.