European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 5, 1950, Darmstadt, Hesse                                This sign above the Entrance to a building that once was the Headquarters of the Gestapo in Augsburg today Calls the passerby to seek  and information in its Nuitt Roadie rooms. Its Library contains 12,000 volumes mostly in English. On Augsburg s Pruns Regentin str there stands a building which Faagone through a Complete metamorphosis. Not Many years ago passers y crossed the Street to Lessen their chances of hearing the screams of Gestapo victim tortured in the basement of this House. To Day they often pause As they pass to listen to the laughter of hundreds of German Chil Dren watching a punch and Judy show or viewing a special movie presented after school gets out. This unpretentious build ing used to be the Legal Gestapo Headquarters. It is now Augsburg s America House. Fairly typical of All America houses in the . Zone it is dedicated to the simple Ideal of presenting an honest picture of the ., in the belief that such a presentation will materially help in the democratization of the German people. More than any other .-sponsored innovation the America House has de Pended on the desire of the people them selves to seek a new Way of life. Today s Large Well equipped centers Are the out growth of Small Public libraries and Reading rooms set up immediately after the War by the information control division cd of military government. From the 1946 daily average of 80 visitors to the Augsburg Reading room the number of germans coming to America House has risen to a daily total of More than 1.800, her As in other Cetie this growth a not exactly easy. It required tremendous amount of enthusiasm and tireless exertion on the part of the Small .staff, and the unselfish cooperation of army military government and i Ter Hico officials the bulk of the credit in Augsburg must be handed to cd Ter s. Wright former director and to mrs. Sofieh Bernard Wright � former assistant and present i by win fanning staff writer two German women look Over the latest stateside fashions in a current edition of Harper s Bazaar. Up to Date magazines and technical literature Are a feature of the America House. Right a poster artist touches up a poster advertising a meeting. Rector. Brig Gen Clinton a. Pierce cd and All of the town s my and Hico resident officers have also Given invaluable Aid essentially America House is an in formation Center for people wishing to learn about the american Way of life. The Library with 12,000 volumes most i English but Many in German is still the heart of the  in importance is the huge period ical Reading room not Only offering pop ular magazines and newspapers but also keeping on hand technical journals. There is a children s Library and at theother extreme a special medical Library offering research starved German doctor the Chance to catch up on the latest med ical developments in the . Most Book May be borrowed for Home study. While the libraries and Reading rooms draw almost 1,000 of the daily visitors mrs. Bernard says the regularly scheduled lectures motion pictures concert Sand English classes Are of Only slightly less importance in the Center s Mission occupation americans have contribute their time As lecturers and in Augsburg Joan Pierce daughter of the general teaches two regularly scheduled courses in american history and literature. It is difficult for most americans to devote As much time As does miss Pierce mrs. Bernard explained but their assist Ance on special occasions is  displaced persons and German refugees Are among the most frequent visitors the director said. An Effort is now being made to have school authorities encourage High school age youngsters to take advantage of the facilities the students Are too Quick to take anyone s word for new facts mrs. Bernard explained. We would like them to learn to Check things for  the Parent House the Augsburg District has 10 Small Reading rooms each with assorted periodicals and a Library of about 1,000 volumes. These smaller Cen ters Are located in Rural county seats and country towns where Farmers come to Market their goods. A View of the main Reading room Well lighted by Day and night where students and those merely interested in learning More about the United states can sit in Comfort Reading books and magazines. A group of children attend a movie about the United states at America Bouse in Augsburg. Special schedules Are arranged to attract children in cooperation with the Gya program. There is a special Library for children and efforts Are being made to encourage children of High school age to use it. The stats and stripes