Library War Council

The United States Library War Council was founded in 1917 by the American Library Association as part of the Library War Service.[1][2] Its aim was to raise funds as well as solicit books donations so that American troops overseas during WWI could avail themselves of library services while serving the country. The council's headquarters existed in the Library of Congress starting in October 1917.[3]

Background

On June 22, 1917, the American Library Association voted to create the War Service Committee and sub-committees.[3] In August of the same year, a vote was held to green-light a fundraising campaign. The project's first campaign for funds ran from August 23, 1917, through November 1, 1917. During this time, Matthew S. Dudgeon was appointed Camp Libraries Director.[3]

One of the council's projects involved collecting books to send to American troops overseas during WWI. Another object was to provide overall library services to the troops.[1] In total, the council held three campaigns to provide servicepersons with books and other amenities commonly found in libraries.[1] Posters solicited the public for funds as well as book donations.[4] Some campaigns solicited for money alone, while others were in solicitation of books.[5] Various articles appeared in newspapers in magazines drawing attention to the cause and enlisting the public's interest in the education of soldiers. For example, Eveline W. Brainerd's "Reading At the Front," published January 19, 1918 in The Independent, read:

"Scant as the libraries at the front have been and still are, little as they hold of recent publications, they are yet circulating thousands of books and do fine service all of the daytime."[3]

Chairmen

The movement was headed by various chairmen such as Frank A. Vanderlip (1919),[6] a banker, journalist, and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and Everett Perry (1917), Head Librarian of the Los Angeles Central Library, in charge of the Southwestern Division.[3]

References
  1. "The Library War Service". American Libraries Magazine. February 18, 2016.
  2. Libraries for our soldiers and sailors. Library War Council. November 18, 1917 – via Hathi Trust.
  3. "War Library Bulletin". American Library Association. November 18, 1917 – via Google Books.
  4. Council, Massachusetts Library War (November 18, 1917). "Banish lonely hours in camp! Help provide libraries filled with books for soldiers A million dollars for a million books for a million men--Leave your money at the public library or at any bank. The Library War Council - appointed by the War Department through the American Library Association - is raising one million dollars during Camp Library Week, Sept. 24-30, to build and maintain a library at every training camp and cantonment for soldiers, sailors and airmen, at home and abroad. Massachusetts Library War Council" – via Wikimedia Commons.
  5. "War Library Bulletin". American Library Association. November 18, 1917 – via Google Books.
  6. "American Library Association's Honorary Member Listing | Awards & Grants". www.ala.org.


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