Victory Book Campaign Collection

The Victory Book Campaign was a national book drive coordinated by libraries across the United States in order to provide books to military libraries and individual soldiers during World War II. As early as 1941, the American Library Association broached the idea of a national book donation campaign to the military. Once initial objections were overcome, the National Defense Book Campaign was founded. With headquarters in the Empire State Building, the first board meeting occured on November 8, 1941 and Los Angeles librarian Althea Warren was elected national director. The organization's name was quickly changed to the Victory Book Campaign following Pearl Harbor, and plans were made to partner with libraries, schools, publishers, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and other organizations across the country. The first campaign was slated for January to March of 1942, and included book drops at libraries, Scouts canvassing neighborhoods to ask for books, and even milkmen picking up books from homes. 6.5 million books came in through this campaign; and 10,827,097 had been received by year's end. Another campaign was planned for 1943, this time emphasizing the need for high-quality, relevant books. The 1943 campaign brought in 7, 622,877 books. However, by late 1943 the Victory Book Campaign came to an end. With only 56% of donated books deemed suitable for the troops, the project had been a limited success. Add to this the difficulties of shipping heavy hardcover books overseas and a new series of lightweight Armed Sevices Editions from major publishers, and the Victory Book Campaign was no longer needed.

In Rochester, the Victory Book Campaign was coordinated by the Central Library under the leadership of Library Director John Adams Lowe. Book drops were located in public and school libraries, firehouses, and other public locations for te first campaign, January 12-24, 1942. Over 18,000 books were received across Monroe County during the campaign; 32,783 were received by March 17. The Campaign continued in a sustained manner for the rest of the year and into 1943. However, it followed the national campaign into oblivion by late 1943.