STUDENT COUNCIL TO DONATE 12 SPECIAL "WAR LIBRARIES"

To stimulate student reading and discussion on the present war, the Student Council plans to establish twelve special "war libraries" at the University, each containing a selected list of about 70 books on the war, it was announced today by Langdon P. Marvin Jr. '41, President of the Council.

The Student Council has been aided by the library staff in selecting a nonpartisan bibliography on the war, representing the varied points of view of isolation, partial intervention, intervention, and alliance with Great Britain.

The books for the libraries will be purchased by the Student Council, and donated to the University. The collections will be located, under present plans, in the libraries of the seven Houses, the Union, Dudley Hall, the Root Room of the Law School Library, the Biological Laboratory Common Room, and the Farnsworth Reading Room in the Widener Library.

The cost of the project will be between $1,000 and $2,000, which the Council hopes to raise from alumni. The Order Department of the Library will assist in the purchasing.

In compiling the special war bibliography, the Library staff consulted with faculty experts and also with student groups of various shades of opinion on the war.

In making the announcement of the Student council library plans, Marvin said, "The Student Council has spent considerable attention to the problem created by the discussion in the newspapers and within the College of the apparent difference in point of view about the European War between the older graduates and the present student body. Natural variations of opinion have been largely overemphasized or exaggerated. In a democracy we understand ourselves free to enjoy to the fullest a period of discussion, exchange of opinion, and even of sincere debate which shall in no way compromise the inevitable unity of purpose in our nation which is in fact the ultimate goal of all of us.

"As a small contribution toward that goal, after full consideration, the Council has decided to sponsor the establishment of a selected library of books and pamphlets relating to the world today, to be placed at the disposal of Harvard students for general reading in about a dozen libraries within the University."