The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-21
Four Thousand "War" Volumes
To Be Distributed From Here.
Comprise Library Donated to
Army, Navy by State.
WERE USED INTERNATIONALLY
A. L. A. Asks Aid in Extending
Peace Time Facilities.
Drive to Raise $4,000, 900 win
Be Launched Soon.

I Approximately 400 Of the books
which were provided thru the gener-
osity Of residents Of Kansas for the
army, navy. and marine corps during
the war are being returned to this
ton, after having seen service literally
I in all parts OF the world.
( The books. among them many tech
! from New York by the American Lii
brary association to Mrs. Adrian
/ Greene, secretary Of the Travelling Lii
braries commission at Topeka. Mrs.
Greene Will have charge of circulat-
/ ing the books thruout the state. They
are expected to relieve temporarily the
Z need for wider public library service,
which. since the war. has been acute,
in Kansas as in every other state
In view OF this need, the America n
/ Library association expects to receive
substantial support from the residents
Of Kansas in its undertaking OF a ma
I ton wide effort to extend public IL
brary facilities The association is
gathering a fund of two million dollars
with which TO carry out this aim. as
we'll as many other features Of a pro-
gram which will make the public IL
brary a vital force in building up an
Intelligent, productive citizenship
2 LnS entire H1lEu SLdlSS- IN
the work OF collecting funds Willis H
Kerr, librarian OF the State Normal
school at Emporia. is serving as re-
gional director for Kansas. Iowa. Mis-
souri,. Nebraska. and Colorado.
Directors Plan Campaign.
An institute of the regional directors
from the entire country now IS being
held in New York for the purpose of
perfecttng plans for collecting the two
~ r. fv7r~ 10
much needed work with all possible
vigor.
In the use to be given the books
recently returned to the states. the
request has been made that the war
service purpose OF the books be re-
membered and that especial effort be
made to meet the needs of ex-service
men with them. Since rehabilitation.
the American Library association has
found it necessary to maintain huge
mail service for lending books TO for
mer service men who are now in home
communities which do not have public
libraries. The books recently sent to
this state will probably be used as
travelling libraries.
Several millions OF books were worn
out by heavy usage in the camps, hos
pitfalls and training stations. but the
American Library association was
able to salvage more than one million
volumes from its war work in America
and overseas. OF these, large quanti-
ties are being retained by the army
and navy for permanent library work,
and many are being used by the A
L. A for continued library service to
the merchant marine. coast guard,
light houses and hospitals of the pub
lie health service. In apportioning
among the states the several hundred
thousand books remaining. the Ameri-
can Library association based its fig
ures upon the number OF men who en-
tered the service from each state, and
also upon the relative need of books
as indicated by the number Of books
in libraries Of each state In proportion
to its population.
The war library work taught thou
sands of men to make Intelligent use
/ of books. In the past six months
! Libraries in every state have reported
that they are overwhelmed by the de-
mand, especially for useful books on
technical or vocational subjects.