A new exhibition at Poster House in New York, titled "Reading Under Fire: Arming Minds & Hearts During Wartime," showcases vintage posters from World War I and World War II that promoted reading and book donations to support troops. The posters, drawn from the collections of the American Library Association, the YMCA, and other organizations, encouraged the public to supply soldiers with reading material as a form of morale-boosting and education. The exhibition runs until 1 November and is curated by Molly Guptill Manning.
The exhibition matters because it highlights how books and reading were weaponized as symbols of freedom and democracy against Nazi propaganda and censorship, particularly the book burnings in Berlin in 1933. By framing literacy as an act of resistance, the show connects historical wartime efforts to contemporary debates about information control and the power of reading. It also underscores the role of libraries and voluntary organizations in shaping cultural resilience during conflict.