The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-25
CIR Ethrartan's Gnrnrr
CONDUCTED BY
FRANK PARKER STOCKBRIDGE.
WAR AND THE A. L. A.

and established Library War Service, first for SOL
diers and sailors in training camps and canton
ments then for the overseas and latest for the
men awaiting transportation home or demobiliza-
ton on this side of the Atlantic. 1t raised nearly
six million dollars in money for the purchase OF
books, the construction and equipment of camp
library buildings and the administration of its
Library War Services it collected in addition from
the people of the United States more than five
million books and countless millions of magazines
which it put into the hands of our forces in the
field; it had many more than thousand expert
Librarians in uniform in camp and field and hospi-
tails; it did its job well.
As an organization the American Library Asso-
citation had never before functioned in any positive
manner. Organized more than forty years ago, it
had been valuable clearing house for ideas and
inspirational force for the extension and better
ment of library service but there Whereabouts its
organized activities had begun and ended. Its
members had never, before the war, engaged in
any common effort.
Educational Value
The war experience of the A. i. A. was en-
tightening in two ways. 1t disclosed and drove
home to all librarians the fact that American young
men are not only readers but that they are,
Glass; enthusiastically eager to get hold of books
that have educational value, particularly along
vocational lines. 1t was demonstrated, also, that
librarians could work together a unified organi-
zation, and accomplish great things which could
never be done under any other conditions.
1t was inevitable that the members of the A. l..
A.. drawn together they were by the bond Of
common service and united effort, should seek
means of preserving the new ties, of maintaining
the momentum which the service had given
THAR nization and of ann1vinO in general Ii
brary work at home the lessons and experience
drawn from this service. How far this desire will
eventually develop into activities of the Asso-
citation no one can tell. A beginning has been
made in the extension Of the vocational book service
to the libraries "back home" Every library in
the country is getting the full benefit of the
experience gained in war service. Those that are
unable to buy the books which this experience has
proved are most useful and acceptable to young
Americans can borrow them, many may be
needed, from the central depot that has estab
lished at the Library of Congress in Washington,
not only for the use Of men just out of uniform,
but for all who may want to read them. A big
edition, in paper covers, Of ''Yhe Job Book, - the
useful compendium of occupational suggestions and
lists of useful vocational books has been published
by the A. L. A. for free distribution by libraries
everywhere
Perhaps the most valuable, as it is the most
noticeable reaction of the war and of the war
service of librarians upon the library profession
has been the characterization of the librarians
point of view. 1t would be difficult to-day to find
a trace Of the attitude of detached aloofness and
conscious superiority once assumed by many men,
bers Of the profession. 1t only a couple Of
years ago that request for books of the sort widely
advertised and extensively sold to ambitious arti-
sans was met in most public libraries with the
contemptuous reply: eve don't supply text
books" To-day libraries are Boosting of their cir
cuation of the publications of the correspondence
schools. In the first flush Of enthusiasm over their
new found democracy some may put too much en-
phasis on this class of service but the wholesome
effect of the humanizing contacts of war service
cannot be denied
The problem confronting the A. l.. A. in carry
ing on in peace time the organized effort it main
tanned in war is one of funds, chiefly. For its war
work it properly called on the public for SUBJ