During these early years, other issues of interest included marketing of library services and the need for library legislation in Alaska and the Yukon.  Local history and World War I became focal points of later meetings.  At the 10th anniversary conference in Vancouver, BC, Canadian John Ridington suggested libraries held the key to preventing warfare in the future by upholding ideals, creating sympathies and disseminating knowledge

One of PNLA’s first initiatives was the formation of the Subscription Book Committee and the launching of the Subscription Books Bulletin in 1917.  Intended to provide information on books of inferior quality printed cheaply in bulk serial subscription form by unscrupulous publishers, the Bulletin proved to be popular with libraries outside the Pacific Northwest and in 1930 the American Library Association (ALA) took over its publication, eventually merging it into what became the ALA Booklist.

By the 10th anniversary in 1919, the association had more than 233 members and 9 active committees including a Committee on Libraries in Alaska and the Yukon; Membership Extension Committee; Pacific Northwest Bibliography Committee; Publicity Committee; School Libraries Committee; Subscription Book Committee; Trustees Finance Committee; War Records; Committee on Salaries and the Special Committee on a Joint Meeting with California.

Sessions in that anniversary year include: Some effects of the war on a small library; War impetus to technology; With the A.E.F in Occupied German Territory; Hospital Service in France; Cooperation and division of labor in the collection of war material in states and provinces; The outlook in the children’s department; libraries and reading for school teachers.

The annual conference of the PNLA did much during the early formative years to provide inspiration and enthusiasm for librarianship.  These conferences helped to bring professional unity and morale.  On returning from conferences librarians were better librarians because of the wholesome interchange of ideas and because of new points of view with which to attack old problems.