1918 American Library Association Map of the United States and Army Libraries

This is a 1918 American Library Association (ALA) map of the United States highlighting 'Special War Libraries' created by the ALA during World War I. Published during the week of the Armistice (November 11, 1918), squares mark military camps that have dedicated library buildings, while circles mark camps that have libraries in other buildings. Statistics along the bottom border detail the camp library buildings in operation at the time of publication, librarians employed by the Service, Library War Service distribution points overseas, and the number of books shipped overseas, among many other facts.

The Library War Service

Established by the American Library Association in 1917, the Library War Service was created to provide library services to soldiers. Between 1917 and 1920, the Library War Service built thirty-six libraries on military camps around the United States, raised five million dollars, and distributed between seven and ten million books and magazines to American servicemen. These materials were sent to over 500 locations including military hospitals. Libraries across the country helped with the effort, acting as collection points for donated books and venues for fund raising. The Library War Service laid the groundwork for library departments within the American armed forces. It also greatly influenced the creation of the American Library in Paris, the largest English-language lending library in continental Europe. After the Library War Service ceased operations, the military took over managing base camp libraries.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the American Library Association on the week of November 11, 1918, Armistice Day. Seven examples appear to be cataloged in OCLC, part of the collections at the Library of Congress, the Library of Virginia, the Washington State Library, Pennsylvania State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Wichita State University. An example is also part of the David Rumsey Map Collection.