The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-05-21
BOOKS BRING AID
TO SOLDIER SICK
american Library Association
Serves Ten Thousand Men
In Nations Hospitals.
EFFORTS BRING RESULTS.
WsPj<s on Vocational Training Ciros'
hated Among Men Who Must Take
Up New calllnss Because 81
Their Injuries.

01opital library service maintained
b. tie American Library Associstios
da14ug tie war was credited with great
valoe IN aiding in the recovery Of May
ssek ana disabled men.
TheSU are still in our hospitals nsrs
tAas 10000 fernsr service msn. o.
thsss nearly 5000 are in Public Health
SsFs1es AespitAls, the rsnsindsr u
civilian hospitals. Books, nagasinss
and nswspapers are sent to these men
from the American Library Assoeia-
ton. In the larger hospitals, contain
Ing over 500 patients, special Librarians
are placed. To the smaller hospitals,
through the cooperation Of many pub
Lie libraries, library visitors are sent
to visit the wards once or twice week
and learn the book needs of the pa
tients.
A special effort is made to supply TO
sx-servics men in hospitals the books
In demand ~ a result Of the training
oven by the Federal Board for Voca-
tienal Education.
More Books for Blind.
The 4. L. A., in cooperation Win
other agencies already interested In
work far tbs blind. il printing books
In the new Braills type. Because OF
the nSwnsss Of the revised Braills
adopted for teaching to the American
war blind, literature printed In 1t II
Iimitsd to fewer than 200 books.
Thouxh the total number Of blinded
soldiers is small, their need Of books
II 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
20 great TO men in camps that enorts
are still being made to connect ais
charged soldiers and sailors with hpra-
ries 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.
In many cases there IL . state libra
~ commission or 4 nearby library to
which 4 man can be referred for the
books he needs, but II there 10 no sucn
organization through which he can DO
served, books for almost any serious
purpose may be borrowed directly
from the A. L. A. War Service, "a West
street. New York city.
The only expense in connection win
these loans Is prepayment OF return
postage on books borrowed.
The A. L. A. has published lists OF
books to help ex-service men who are
studying to advance themselves IN
their work. give Hundred Business
zone Thousand Technical
Books" and reading courses on prae-
teal subjects are now in prsparatisA-
othsr Work Being Done.
Other branches Of work which the
A. L. 4. War Services II carrying on In
clude service to the Merchant Marine,
Coast Guard and lighthouses, service
10 Industrial communities which are
resultant from the war, service to unit-
ID States forces overseas. This WORK
h carried on with money received from
he United War Work funds, the use
II which IL limited by the conditions
II the gift to these specific purposes.
The service Of the Merchant Marine
provides free library serv-
C. TO seamen on American merchant
hips in the form Of "crews' libraries,
bookcase boxes, each containing about
70 books. These libraries are ex-
at principal ports. Books
md magazines are sent also to mea In
.east guard stations. in Lighthouses ana
N lightships.