Poster showing numerous scenes of activities sponsored by the American Library Association Library War Service, including interiors and exteriors of facilities, and military personnel reading and studying.
In 1917, the American Library Association was called upon to help the war effort with training, funds and providing books for the many military camps. They created the War Service committee, and provided library services to U.S. soldiers and sailors. They worked to provide library collections to over 500 military locations, distributing over 7 million books, magazines, and other material to soldiers. Though they only had 3,300 members at the time of the war, they managed to raise $5 million in public donations and continued to campaign for soldiers to get reading material they needed. Thanks to these combined efforts, soldiers today have access to libraries in the army, navy, and Veteran’s bureau.
This poster for the American Library Association was created under the United War Work Campaign. It reads, "'Hey Fellows!' Your Money Brings the Book We Need When We Want It" Through public contributions, the ALA was able to provide library service to soldiers and sailors during World War I.
President Woodrow Wilson created the United War Work Campaign to raise money for war relief efforts both in the United States and abroad. Originally, eleven organizations participated, but that number settled at seven. The final agencies involved were the "National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Associations, War Work Council of the National Board of the Young Women's Christian Associations, National Catholic War Council (Knights of Columbus), Jewish Welfare Board, War Camp Community Service, American Library Association, and the Salvation Army.”
Poster advertising the United War Work Campaign. It reads, "If you only knew! How much joy your dollars bring 'over there' you'd GIVE and GIVE and GIVE!!!!" To illustrate this joy, a smiling soldier is shown enjoying a piece of pie and a hot beverage. The emblems from the seven organizations of the United War Work Campaign are also featured on the poster.
President Woodrow Wilson created the United War Work Campaign to raise money for war relief efforts both in the United States and abroad. Originally, eleven organizations participated, but that number settled at seven. The final agencies involved were the "National War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Associations, War Work Council of the National Board of the Young Women's Christian Associations, National Catholic War Council (Knights of Columbus), Jewish Welfare Board, War Camp Community Service, American Library Association, and the Salvation Army.”