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"Books Wanted" Poster

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The ALA conducted several book drives during the war to stock libraries at military camps within the US and overseas. Through posters like this, they encouraged members of the public to donate works of fiction, poetry, history, texts in foreign languages, and technical books. The ALA’s Library War Service Office warned libraries: “Don’t be too fastidious or too ‘high brow,’” about donations; they wanted a wide variety of texts (Young 25). 

The “Books for Sammies” drives worked. The ALA collected approximately 4.2 million volumes in three separate drives held in September 1917, March 1918, and January 1919 (Young 25-26).
 

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  1. The ALA's Wartime Activities Nancy A. Henke

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