Advance and Retreat: Aspects of Public Library Services in New South Wales during World War II

This article describes the impact of the outbreak of World War II on the operations of the state library in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and the changing fortunes of public library legislation during the course of the war. Drawing on archival sources, this study shows for the first time the extent of lobbying by librarians and the public in support of the legislation and the interest of others, including Ralph Munn and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, in the outcome. Implementation of the legislation did not occur until an Allied victory seemed assured, but the legislation was enthusiastically adopted at war's end.