Mr. BISCOE described the work at Albany, running through two years, the
first being taken up with trade bibliography and the second with
reference work and subject bibliography. The large resources of the New
York State Library enable the students to see, study and use almost all
books taken up and the work is accompanied with many problems. Further
elective work is also offered to students desiring to specialize along
this line.
Miss PLUMMER spoke for the Pratt Institute School. During the first year
a general course of instruction in bibliography is offered, beginning
with trade bibliography, students being referred to the leading works of
reference in English, French and German through lectures and problems
given during the year. Each student is required to prepare a reading
list on a selected subject, requiring considerable research work, which
must be satisfactory to the instructor. The leading national and subject
bibliographies are included in the lectures, and the problems frequently
require consultation of these. Ten lectures are given on the history of
books and printing. This is merely an outline course offered partly that
students may discover any latent inclination toward the historical
course, that they may know there is that side to their work. "In the
special lessons in French and German cataloging which we expect to
undertake this fall," she said, "a study of foreign catalogs will be a
prominent feature, and the students will collect for themselves a
vocabulary of bibliographical terms in these languages. In the broad
sense of the term bibliography, as we find it in the 'Century
dictionary,' the subject is fairly well covered by the second year's
historical course. Through the courtesy of the New York Public Library
the class has had opportunity to do most of its work at the Lenox
Library where there is a fine collection of reference books. The course
begins with a study of reference books on the history of printing,
bibliographies of the 15th century, etc., and books such as Hain,
Panzer, etc., and the more general bibliographies, _e.g._, Brunet,
Graesse. The history of bookmaking is studied from the period of the
manuscript through the 15th century, and some work with American and
other books has been done each year. The materials used in the earliest
times, the methods of production and the steps leading to the invention
of printing are all treated. The history of printing is studied by
country, town, and printer, chronologically, and a study of the types
used by different printers is made. For practical work the class
catalogs 15th century books. The books used for consultation in this
course have been very numerous, and perhaps a good working knowledge of
them has been the most important feature of the work. The class was not
and could not be limited to books in English, but used and in part
translated books of reference in foreign languages. In the work with
manuscripts the historical course depends upon instruction given by
Prof. Egbert, professor of Latin palæography of Columbia University, who
has made up a course especially adapted to the object of our work and to
the time we have to give. Twenty-three lectures, only a few of which are
devoted to the bibliography of the subject, comprise the instruction,
two hours' work outside being necessary on each lecture. Much more is
usually done by the students, who generally live in New York city while
taking the historical course. The study of successive handwritings and
abbreviations as illustrated by blue-prints furnished by the professor,
leads naturally to early printed books, whose types were modelled after
the handwriting of the period. Reports of the work of this class have
been very satisfactory."
Miss KROEGER, of the Drexel Institute Library School, described a course
of 15 lectures on the history of books and printing, given at her
school.
The lectures embrace the following subjects:
I. The development of language, oral and written. Ancient systems of
writing. Derivation of the English alphabet. The preservation of
literature. Earliest forms of permanent records, literature,
books, and libraries in the ancient civilizations of the east.
II. The literatures of Greece and Rome. The book in the classical age.
Alexandria as a literary center. Barbarian invasions of the Roman
Empire. Decline and extinction of ancient culture. Destruction of
books and libraries.
III. The book in the Middle Ages. The preservation and the production
of books in the monasteries. Development of the illuminated
manuscript. The early Renascence in its relation to literature
and books.
IV. The later Renascence: revival of learning. Recovery of ancient
literature. Rome, Florence, and Venice as the centers of
activity. Multiplication of manuscripts. The formation of modern
libraries.
V. The art of engraving as the precursor of printing. The invention
and diffusion of printing. The chief centers and the great
masters of printing. The printed book and its influence upon
civilization.