The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-05-11
BOOKS. BRING AID
TO SOLDIER SICK
American Library Association
Serves Ten Thousand Men
in Nations Hospitals.
EFFORTS BRING RESULTS.
Works on Vocational Training Ctrcu.
lated Among Men Who Must Take
Up New caIIinos 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 10000 former service men. OF
these nearly 5000 are in Public Health
Service hospitals, the remainder In
civilian. hospitals. Books, magazines
and newspapers are sent to these men
from the American Library Associa-
ton. In; the larger hospitals, contain
ing over 800 patients, special Librarians
are placed. To the smaller hospitals,
through the cooperation Of many pub
Nc libraries, library visitors are sent
- visit tho wards once or twice . week
and learn the book needs Of the pa
tents.
A special effort is made to supply to
Ax-service men in hospitals the books
n demand as q result of the training
oven by the Federal Board for Voca-
t1onal Education. .,,t
More Books for Blind.
The A. L. A., in cooperation with
ether agencies already interested in
work for the blind, Is printing books
in the new Braille type. Because Of
the newness Of the revised Braille
adopted for. teaching to the American
war blind, literature printed in it is
limited. to fewer, than 200 books.
Though the total number Of blinded
soldiers is small, their need Of books
Il 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
70 great TO men in camps that efforts
are still being made to connect dis
charged soldiers and sailors with libra
1ies wherever they may be. Hundreds
Of letters have reached A. L. A. head
quarters from former service men tell
ing Of the lack Of library facilities in
particular localities to which those
men have returned ~
Direct Service Provided. e..
In many cases there Is a state libra
~ commission Or il nearby library to
which a man can be referred for the
books he needs. but nc there is no such
organization through which he can be
served, books for almost any serious
purpose may he borrowed directly
from the A. l.. A. War Service. "A West
Thirty-ninth street. New York city.
The only expense in connection with
these loans is prepayment OF return
postage OF, books borrowed
The A. l.. A. has published lists OF
hooks to help cx-sPrvice men who are
studying to advance themselves in
their work give Hundred Business
Books" Zone Thousand Technical
Books" and reading courses on prac-
teal subjects are now in preparation.
Other Work Being Done.
Other branches OF work which the
A. l.. A. War Service is carrying on in.
rluip service to- the Merchant Marine
Coast Guard and lighthouses. service
10 Industrial communities which are
resultant from tlr war. service 10 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
Of the gift to these specific purposes.
The service Of the Merchant Marine
department provides free library Serv-
ice TO seamen on American merchant
ships IN the form vt "crews' libra ries,"
bookcase boxes. each containing about
70 books These libraries are px-
changeable at principal ports. Books
coast guard stations. In lighthouses and
Oh lightships. z
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