Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-27

MISS CLARA w. HERBERT.
know little more about 1t, in case
his luck held again, on the next ship
on which he was going out.
Two Navy Yard employees in their
| precious time off from their respec-
tive skills put in these requests, one
for book on camouf1age, the other
for something that would help him
in estimating to a nicely the steel
wire gauges on guns. If they weren't
long enough, the guns might slip;
if they were too long, he was vast
ing wire. Another highly specialized
war time worker sought assistance
in the chemistry of light and colors
that would be guide to him in the
mixing of luminous paints.
From Young and Old.
Out at Northeastern branch, older
men going into new technical posi-
tons, asked about the effect of
welding on the eyes, the tempering
of steel, safety devices in air COM
preston, information on all types Of
civil service positions, especially as
naval architects, purchasing agents,
mail carriers and file clerks. The
younger ones were seeking informa-
ton about quick reviews of science,
mathematics and current events by
way of taking entrance examina-
tons for the Air Corps or Coast
Guard.
The anxious wife Of a soldier
sought help from the staff librarian
at the Southwestern branch as to
how to go about ascertaining wheth-
er or not her overseas husband had
set aside the necessary dependency
allotment. A little help in framing
the requisite type Of inquiry to the
Army bureau here in Washington
which handles such matters was
gratefully received. A young Army
sergeant On a brief visit to this city
with his wife and baby felt it might
help if the librarian could tell him
where the baby could be safely
parked in day nursery while its
parents took a little time off to
themselves for some sightseeing
They left beaming on being given
the necessary directions, and car
ried with them helpful sightseeing
itinerary as to how they might best
utilize their little holiday together
A Government official at the
Mount Pleasant branch sought in
formation on personnel admins
tration and business organization
in the setting-up of branch of a
new Government agency. A one
time feminine devotee of GILBERT
sons latest manuals on bridge said
to her favorite staff assistant, Il
have a surprise for you. New bridge
techniques are out for the duration.
Instead, help me, get up to date on
how to stretch the buyers dollar
and ways to get the most nutrition
for my family on this proposed
meat rationing."
Books on Strategy Sought.
A naval officer at the Georgetown
branch was seeking books on war
strategy in German. Another was
making inquiries as to what there
might be on the same subject in
Japanese and Russian, and so the
story went wherever we inquired.
while all of our staff assistants
are trained librarians" Miss Her
bert explained, they are not spe-
cialists in the fields of the many
unusual questions being put to
them. But they are skilled in read
ing indexes and, as a result of this,
they usually are able to be helpful.
Many times the questions are so
much ones of the current moment
nothing has been written on the
subject in book form. This is where
our up-to-date clippings from news
papers, reviews and pamphlets func-
| ton for our readers"
In this connection a very popular
war-reading room has been made
available on the main floor of the
Central Library in charge of Mrs.
Steinbarger. Here are gathered to-
gether books, periodicals, phamplets
and maps giving the background of
the war, the armed forces, civilian
defense and mobilization as we'll
as material on the traditions of
democracy, the American way Of
life and postwar planning.
The predominant characteristic
of the past year from the Public
Library point of view has been the
heavy demand for information vital
to the inquirer in his readjustment
to the war.
Reading With a Purpose.
Casual reading" Miss Herbert
! declares, has been very much in
the minority. It's place has been
very largely taken by the reader
with purpose" This type of read
er, we learned, is interested in
spiritual values as we'll as in for
eign languages, aircraft construction
and technical training and post
war planning, but with the emphasis
upon the kind of war we ere fight
ing determining the kind of peace
we may hope to have.
Global maps, air maps. locality
maps showing strategic changes in
military naneuvers are prime IA
vorites with young and old.
Living conditions in Iceland,
India, Africa and travel books of
these countries, and of others
where our United States troops are
known to be located, are read with
eagerness by anxious faced parents,
evidently with sons on foreign de-
tails.
Even the children show the gen.
eral trend toward purposeful read
ing with books, emphasizing cour-
age, self-reliance and integrity
sharing first honors. A little boy
| in one of the branch libraries has