On June 22, 1917, the American Library Association voted to create the War Service Committee and sub-committees.[3] In August of the same year, a vote was held to green-light a fundraising campaign. The project's first campaign for funds ran from August 23, 1917, through November 1, 1917. During this time, Matthew S. Dudgeon was appointed Camp Libraries Director.[3]
One of the council's projects involved collecting books to send to American troops overseas during WWI. Another object was to provide overall library services to the troops.[1] In total, the council held three campaigns to provide servicepersons with books and other amenities commonly found in libraries.[1] Posters solicited the public for funds as well as book donations.[4] Some campaigns solicited for money alone, while others were in solicitation of books.[5] Various articles appeared in newspapers in magazines drawing attention to the cause and enlisting the public's interest in the education of soldiers. For example, Eveline W. Brainerd's "Reading At the Front," published January 19, 1918 in The Independent, read:
"Scant as the libraries at the front have been and still are, little as they hold of recent publications, they are yet circulating thousands of books and do fine service all of the daytime."[3]
