Libraries, the Military, and Reading in WWIMain Menu"Books Wanted" Poster"Hey Fellows!" PosterWar Service Committee Bulletin"What the Training Camp Libraries are Doing" ArticleCamp Sevier, South Carolina"Soldier -- Attention" Pamphlet"Knowledge Wins" Poster"Prepare Now" BillboardLearn MoreAbout this Project and its CreatorLicensing InformationNancy A. Henkef97604946e4cb8523b92723cf260a5f0621dd114
Books Wanted
1media/Books Wanted_thumb.jpg2022-04-04T12:26:53-07:00Nancy A. Henkef97604946e4cb8523b92723cf260a5f0621dd114404356A poster of a soldier in military gear holding a stack of books. The text reads, "Books wanted for our men in camp and 'over there.' Take your gifts to the public library."full2022-04-19T10:51:11-07:00Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division[between 1918 and 1923]Soldiers--American--Europe--1910-1930Libraries and soldiers--1910-1930Book drives--1910-1930Falls, C. B. (Charles Buckles), 1874-1960, artistNo known restrictions on publication.JPEGNancy A. Henkef97604946e4cb8523b92723cf260a5f0621dd114
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1media/Books Wanted.jpg2022-04-20T12:29:01-07:00"Books Wanted" Poster7plain2022-04-29T10:18:06-07:00The 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).
