Books in the War: The Romance of Library War Service

by Theodore Wesley Koch

This book serves as an amplification of the Koch's War Libraries & Allied Studies from 1918, covering the American Library Association's Library War Service of World War I.

Table of Contents:
1. The Library War Service of the American Library Association
2. Reading Soldiers
3. Students in Khaki
4. The Call from Overseas
5. The ALA in France
6. Library Service by Mail
7. Naval Libraries and Transport Service
8. American Military Hospital Libraries
9. Books for the Sick and Wounded
10. The British War Library
11. The British Camps Library
12. British YMCA Libraries
13. British Prisoners of War Book Scheme (Educational)
14. British Military Hospital Libraries
15. Reading in the Prison Camps
16. Letters from the Front
17. Pictures and Poetry
18. The Bible in the Trenches
19. Books for Blinded Soldiers
20. Reading for the Future

Genres: Nonfiction

100 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1919

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1919, Koch updated his first edition of this title to include post-war policies and concerns. This second edition became an incredible source of information for book historians, as well as a powerful testament to the value of literacy and literature. In World War I, many soldiers had limited or no literacy skills. Others could read and write… in their first language, but not in English. Soldiers learned to read quickly, however, when faced with the monotony and horror of life in the trenches. Koch highlights the ways that books influenced soldiers both during and after the war, from farm boys and African American troops to prisoners of war (on both sides!). First hand accounts make up the bulk of this work, with Koch merely reflecting on the experiences of the fighting men of World War I. Koch highlights a surprisingly diverse array of subjects, including books for the blind, hospital libraries, and the work of women in the war and in literacy efforts. Of course, there are still evident prejudices in the way Koch writes about minority groups. Some statements are overly optimistic, as readers look through the lens of decades of hindsight, but overall the book is enlightening and inspiring.