Saturday, 29 Oct 2005, Morning
U.S. Library Service During World War II
"Doing Their Part: The Provision of Library Services in San Diego County During World War II." Tamara L. Shaw (University of San Diego).
In 1940, San Diego was already gearing up for war with many military bases in the area. There was an accompanying population explosion with 1500 arriving each week. The population grew from 200k to 300k in one year, placing strains on all basic services.
Public libraries set up War Information Centers working closely with the Office of Civilian Defense.
War Information Services to Libraries, 1942
SDPL becomes a de facto welcome center with so many pouring into town.
Created several new branches and many stations. Found a room and a person to staff it. Comprised mostly of gift books for pleasure reading. Open 1-2 days per week for a couple of hours, staffed by community volunteers.
Linda Vista community – built 3000 houses in 300 days. The Linda Vista Branch was called "And 1" because the government’s official count of buildings was 3000 and 1. This branch circulated over 60 books per hour in its 1st month, and over 90 books per hour in its 2nd month.
Hardships for SDPL
- Publishing issues
- Nationwide transportation issues
- Borrowers moving frequently
- Huge increase in overdue books
"Bookcases of Cultural Maintenance or Resistance?: Japanese Language Library Collections in American Concentration Camps, 1942-1946." Andrew B. Wertheimer (University of Hawaii).
Most narratives of Japanese-American internment are based on nisei (2nd generation) perspectives. Over 2/3rds of those detained were nisei, although many were eventually allowed to leave the camps due to a Supreme Court decision.
The issei were not allowed to become citizens until 1952.
Initially the Army set up 16 WCCA assembly centers. Eventually they became 10 relocation centers. This term is an euphemism for concentration camps. They existed from 1942 to late 1946.
After a couple of months, all Japanese language materials, except for Bibles and hymnals, were collected/purged.
Books in English were donated to the camps, but there were many more Japanese language speakers interred than English language speakers.
Confiscated books were returned to the camps for Japanese language collections in some cases. Still were censored to be pro-American titles.
Library of Congress was imposed upon to prepare a list of objectionable titles. This list was created by a Korean independence activist with no clear evidence of why titles were on the list. E.g., all magazines published after October 1936 were banned.
"Book on Trial: Witch Hunt in the Heartland and a Nation’s Response, 1940-1943." Wayne Wiegand (Florida State University).
This was the story of the Progressive Bookstore in Oklahoma City. Bob and Ina Wood, Eli Jaffee and Allan Shaw were brought up and convicted on charges of criminal syndicalism by calling for the violent overthrow of the government. They were defended by the ACLU and the ILD. They were all given the maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $5000 fines for owning and selling books that Oklahoma City officials did not like.
Books such as:
- War and Peace
- Collected works of Jack London
- The Grapes of Wrath
- …
Almost everyone of the books in the 42 boxes of evidence were available on the shelves of every American public library!
In Feb 1943 the Oklahoma Criminal Court of appeals overturned 3 of the convictions and the 4th a few months later.
During the questions it came out that ALA and the Oklahoma library association avoided the issue. Library Journal also took no position.
Lunch with a varied set of folks, to include the 1st presenter in this group.