Lakewood Library during World War I (1914-1922) by Kristin https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory How the Library was Built and Its Contributions to the War Effort en-us 2020-09-30 14:37:19 UTC 2023-02-10 21:28:29 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4da.png In 1914, the library was in a room at the Y.M.C.A., membership and book circulation was increasing and there was talk of raising funds for a library building. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/791580057 2020-09-30 14:53:59 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/791580057 In 1915, the Township informed the Library Board they would not appropriate taxes for a new library building. The library kept renewing their lease with the Y.M.C.A as pictured above. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814016622 2020-10-08 14:43:20 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814016622 In 1917, funds were obtained by the Carnegie Corporation with a stipulation from the Township to furnish the site, costs toward the building and annual maintenance for a total sum of $24,000. It was completed in February of 1918. The library couldn't open until March due to lack of lighting fixtures. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814030625 2020-10-08 14:46:36 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814030625 Notice that the library was named "Lakewood Library", rather than Lakewood Free Library (which used to be its name). This was to avoid confusion to non-residents who were required to pay a membership fee. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814056817 2020-10-08 14:52:28 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814056817 A front page newspaper article from "The Lakewood Daily Times and Journal" on April 25, 1917 announced the new library and its location. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814116584 2020-10-08 15:05:40 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814116584 The Carnegie Corporation, the Library Board and the Township were not the only ones who helped to build the new library. The librarian, Miss Katherine L. Hinsdale, played an important role in purchasing furniture, books and designing the interior space. Many library board meetings were held with financial reports and budgets documenting the building progress and donations from the town's residents. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814159130 2020-10-08 15:15:09 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/814159130 During the years of World War I, Lakewood was tasked with supplying books and magazines to Lakehurst, Camp Dix and Camp Merritt (located in Dumont and Cresskill, Bergen County, NJ). It was one of 1200 in the nation selected as a "War Information Center" for government pamphlets. Part of the library basement was used by the Lakewood Red Cross for rolling bandages. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/829555365 2020-10-14 17:21:35 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/829555365 In 1918, Miss Hinsdale also assisted with establishing a library at Army Hospital No. 9 which was a military hospital in a converted hotel (The Lakewood Hotel) on 7th St. between Clifton and Lexington Aves. Library facilities were made available, free, to officers, enlisted men and nurses of the hospital. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/829567975 2020-10-14 17:24:32 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/829567975 A 1919 report from the librarian, Katherine Hinsdale, stated the accomplishments of their efforts. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/833206652 2020-10-15 17:07:48 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/833206652 In Hinsdale's 1917 Librarian's Report, she described the Camp Dix program supplying books to soldiers. The library was able to raise funds for a total of $355 in response to the Library War Council's letter. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/833230341 2020-10-15 17:13:02 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/833230341 Miss Hinsdale also coordinated the purchase of library chairs. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/835881525 2020-10-16 15:12:36 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/835881525 And had some problems with the chairs as stated in the letter above. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/835883541 2020-10-16 15:13:06 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/835883541 kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/836361894 2020-10-16 17:15:55 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/836361894 kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/836362846 2020-10-16 17:16:10 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/836362846 kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/836412400 2020-10-16 17:29:28 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/836412400 In 1917, the American Library Association established the Library War Service to provide library services to American soldiers training in camps and serving overseas. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841533323 2020-10-19 15:37:12 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841533323 kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841549751 2020-10-19 15:40:40 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841549751 The 1918 Library Trustees report was able to continue the war effort as described above. The report also mentioned the new library opening to the public on February 5, 1918. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841588168 2020-10-19 15:48:50 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841588168 The library even received a handwritten note from Herbert P. Lansdale (the General Secretary of the Rochester, NY Y.M.C.A.). Lansdale was on loan from the Y.M.C.A. War Work Council to oversee operations at Camp Dix. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841975356 2020-10-19 17:10:10 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/841975356 kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/842022915 2020-10-19 17:20:08 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/842022915 The library was still a help to Camp Dix even in 1921. Katherine Hinsdale received a humorous letter from the Camp librarian (an Army soldier). kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/842087561 2020-10-19 17:32:36 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/842087561 After 1921, there is no mention in the Library minutes of the completion of this program. In subsequent years, the library building made many improvements, increased library staff and patrons, and increased its book collection. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/849248155 2020-10-21 15:50:25 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/849248155 A 1920 report also lists a donation of the ambulance name plate "Lakewood" that served in France during the war. These items are no longer with the library history collection and the whereabouts are unknown. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/849317173 2020-10-21 16:05:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/849317173 The "Carnegie" Library built on 2nd and Monmouth St. operated from 1918 to 1995. Lakewood built a new 18,500 square foot building on Lexington Ave.(between 3rd and 4th St.). And in 1999, the Lakewood Library became part of the Ocean County Library system. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/849431442 2020-10-21 16:29:39 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/849431442 This history timeline narrative by Adrienne Katz from 1971, original Lakewood Library documents, and picture postcards used in this presentation are currently held in the Ocean County Library, Lakewood branch historical collection. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/852626460 2020-10-22 14:27:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_warhistory/wish/852626460