Knowledge wins. Public library books are free

Accession No.: 07_01_000052

Title: Knowledge wins. Public library books are free

Artist: Smith, Dan, 1865-1934

Issuing Agency: American Library Association

Publisher: Designed and printed by Thomsen-Ellis Company, Baltimore, New York

Date: 1918

Genre: War posters

Extent: 1 print (poster) : lithograph, color

Description: This American Library Association poster uses an image of a soldier climbing a bridge of books to a city in the distance to promote the importance of reading and education.

Notes: The American Library Association produced this poster as a part of its "Books for Sammies" campaign to send books to soldiers. In WW I, the English called American soldiers "Yanks" or "Sammies" for Uncle Sam. Thousands of these posters were displayed in libraries and expanded the libraries' visibility and their role as community centers by participating in wartime initiatives.

Period: World War, 1914-1918

Subjects: Libraries; Economic aspects of war; Liberty

BPL Department: Print Department

Rights: Public Domain