New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Adult Education and Library Extension.

The Victory Book Campaign was a nationwide effort to collect books for distribution to members of the armed forces which was sponsored by the American Library Association, The American Red Cross, and the United Services Organizations for National Defense, Inc. Local libraries were used as collection centers for book donations during two separate campaigns in 1942 and 1943 in an effort coordinated in New York State by the Bureau of Library Extension.

A 1921 amendment to the State Constitution required that all new voters after January 1, 1922 "be able, except for physical disability, to read and write English." Subsequently, certification of literacy by the Board of Regents was established by Chapter 809 of the Laws 1923, which (in addition to age and residency requirements) required the new voter to present proof of literacy that was subject to scrutiny by election inspectors. Literacy certificates were issued by the Regents after applicants passed a test on their comprehension of written English, and these certificates were conclusive proof. According to the law, the new voter could also present as evidence a certificate or diploma showing completion of work of an approved eighth grade elementary school or of a higher-level school in which English was the language of instruction.

According to statistics reported in the series, 28,402 certificates of literacy were issued in 1923. Of that total, 19,806 were applicants who passed the Regents literacy test, and more than one-half came from New York City. After the first meeting of the 1924 Board of Regents, changes in regulations covering issuance of certificates were announced. These changes made the law easier to administer by opening up more schools, extending the period during which exams were held, and permitting applicants who could prove completed work at the sixth grade level in either day or evening school to receive certification of literacy at any time during the school year (decreasing the rush of applicants at election time). Another provision enabled school superintendents to give the Regents literacy test at special times during the year to students enrolled in classes for foreigners and in citizenship, bringing schools in closer contact with the naturalization procedure.

An amendment to the State Constitution, approved on November 8, 1921, required all voters registering after January 1, 1922 to be able to read and write English. Certification of literacy by the Board of Regents was established by legislation in 1923. Literacy certificates were issued by the Regents after applicants passed a test on their comprehension of written English.