The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-13
IM IRMINGHAM is full of charming
 ITN people who are going about |

1N1 IRMINGHAN is full of charming lHN people who are going about her streets entirely unprotect- ed, their minds filled with the knowl- edge of splendid things in the doing which he would like to hear about. Sometimes, like highwaymen, we hold up these people with the command: stand and deliver an immediate ac- count of those interesting things of which you know"
 A person in such a case, who has proven a not unwilling victim is Miss Fannie Taber of the Birmingham library system. Many of us as will ing to buy bonds, both Miss Libertys and the baby's, and to sew and Knit for the Red Cross. Just imagine though, 8 young woman on her way 10 spend her Thanksgiving holiday at home, sacrificing her pleasure ana giving this time and her trained serV- ice for the benefit of others HaVlhg few hours to stop in Montgomery, she went out to Camp Sheridan and saw the need of help in its soldiers library which has just been built and equipped. So here she spent her hol- iday After her return to Birmingham she was given two weeks absence with salary to go back and render further service Few if any other Wom- en have been given the privilege or working in these camp libraries, and she was not allowed to be out of the building in which her work was located without an escort, or to re- main after 5 o'clock.
 There are 32 cantonments in the United States and libraries are to be placed in all. These libraries are be- ing built by the American Library association and money to pay for them was acquired by the campaign last September to which the American people contributed s1,500,00O, With thls amount the libraries are to be- pullt' equipped, furnished, librarian sup piled and books bought.
 Montgomery Is fortunate in having one of the first to be finished It IS a large low wooden building and is said to be the best built and equipped building in the camp.
 There was campaign for books last summer in response to Whlcn many have been given and are still being sent Some through the Eiwanis club from the boxes placed on the streets. Many magazines have been put into these boxes but few DOCKS, anu books are greatly needed.
 So many people have asked: Do the men read the books" and DO they care to have them?" They cer- tainlv do care for and make constant use of them They come into the library in crowds and say how much ehev enjoy them.
 ny young soldier told Miss Taber fn7t before he found out about the library he went to town every night but since he had access to it he spert his evenings there and had not been into town single time, as the library was a much better place.
 The regular librarian is a man Who wears a uniform and lives in phe huilding. It is part of his business to visit around among the officers ana men and arouse interest in the Work.
 The library Is situated in the cen fer of Camp Sheridan, but the camp is so large that in order to reach 1t some of the men would have to walk several miGes On this account there are many branches in which 200 or 900 books are kept and which are ire ouently changed from the central huilding They are in many mess halls, ss5rr-.- os the regimental headquarters, in the Y. M c. A. huts, the Knights of Columbus headquarters and the hos pitals.
 Miss Taber says the men were uni yersally courteous. coming in and of fering to help and sometimes com pleting work at night she had left un- finished. They seemed proud of the library and brought their visitors to it, as one of the sights.
 They ask for all kinds of books, not only novels, but technical books, as many want to continue the study of