A new year means a new One Book, One Nebraska! “Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II” by James J. Kimble is the selection for 2021. The Nebraska Library Commission states, “In the wake of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt called for the largest arms buildup in our nation’s history. A shortage of steel, however, quickly slowed the program’s momentum, and arms production fell dangerously behind schedule. The country needed scrap metal. Henry Doorly, publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, had the solution. Prairie Forge: The Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Metal Drive of World War II tells the story of the great Nebraska scrap drive of 1942—campaign that swept the nation and yielded five million tons of scrap metal, literally salvaging the war effort itself. James J. Kimble chronicles Doorly’s conception of a fierce competition…inspiring Nebraskans to gather 67,000 tons of scrap metal in only three weeks. This astounding feat provided the template for a national drive.”
The Alliance Public Library currently has a copy available for checkout, three copies available on OverDrive, and a book kit on order for any interested bookclubs to use. Come check this out!