The spectator., 1920-08-24
American Library Association Serves Ten Thousand Men
 in Nations Hospitals.
EFFORTS BRING RESULTS.
Works on Vocational Training Circu- lated Among Men Who Must Take Up New CaIIings Because of
 Their Injuries.

Hospital library service maintained by the American Library Association during the war was credited with great value in aiding in the recovery of many sick and disabled men.
 There are still in our hospitals more than i0 GOO former service men. or the arly 5000 are in Public Health Ser - hospitals, the remainder in and newspapers are sent to these men from the American Library Associa- tion. In the larger hospitals, contain ing over 300 patients. special librarians are placed. To the smaller hospitals, through the cooperation of many pulp lie libraries, library visitors are sent to visit the wards once or twice Il week and learn the book needs of the pa tients
 A special effort Is made to supply to ex-service men in hospitals the books in demand as result of the training given by the Federal Board for Noca- tional Education.
 More Books for Blind.
 The A. l.. A., in cooperation with other agencies already interested in in the new Braille type. Because of the newness of the revised Braille adopted for teaching to the American war blind, literature printed in 1t Is limited to fewer than POO books Though the total number of blinded soldiers is small, their need of books Is great, and the magic of print" can do much to restore hope and useful ness to them.
 Not only for former service men who are sick or disabled Is the association working The value of books proved SC great 10 men in camps that efforts are still being made to connect dis charged soldiers and sailors with libra ries wherever. they may be. Hundreds of letters have reached A. l.. \. head quarters from former service men tell Ing st the lack of library facilities in particular localities to witch those men have returned.
 Direct Service Provided.
 In many cases there is state libra. ry commission or nearby library to which man can be referred for the books he needs but If there Is no such organization through which he can be served. books for almost any serious purpose may be borrowed directly from the A. l.. A. War Service, 2i West Thirty-ninth street, New York city The only expense In connection with these loans Is prepayment of return postage on books borrowed
 The X. l.. A. has published lists of books to help ex-service men who are studying 10 advance themselves In their work. Five Hundred Business Books" "One Thousand Technical Books" and reading courses on prac. tical subjects are now in preparation.
 Other Work Being Done.
 Othei branches of work which the A. l. A. War Service Is carrying on ln- clude service to the Merchant Marine. CoaS; Guard aEd lighthouses. service to industrial communities which are s,St.ltatt from the war, service to Unit ed States forces overseas. This work is carried on with money received from the United War Work funds, the use of which Is limited by the conditions If the gift to these specific purposes
 The service of the Merchant Marine departmeHt provides free library serv- ice to seamen on American merchant ships In the form of "creWs' libraries, ," bookcase boNes each containing about so books. These libraries are ex. changeahle at principal ports, Books and magazines are sent also to men in coast guard s'at.ea7 in @ithouses and on lighl hips