After correspondence, it was decided at the beginning of the year to
make another effort to obtain from the Executive Board an appropriation
which would make possible the repeatedly suggested inspection of
library schools. Accordingly, such a request was made at the meeting of
the Executive Board at Chicago last January, and an appropriation of
$200 was obtained.
About the same time, a request was presented to the chairman of the
Committee on library training, signed by representatives of nearly all
the library schools, requesting that the committee recommend a minimum
standard admission, length of course, and curriculum for library
schools.
To this the chairman replied, calling attention to the reports of 1905
and 1906, in which an endeavor had been made to meet a part of the
request, and requesting that the schools indicate in what respects
these reports should be modified or supplemented. The replies to this
request are most interesting and will be of great service to the
committee. When all the schools have answered this inquiry, the replies
will be manifolded and the committee will give the request careful
consideration. A thoroughly satisfactory recommendation, however, will
naturally follow, rather than precede, the contemplated inspection of
schools.
A tentative scheme of points to be observed in the proposed inspection
has been prepared, and is being considered by persons interested. When
their criticisms and suggestions have been received, the committee will
consider the scheme. When approved by the members of the committee, and
when the committee has found a suitable person to make the inspection,
the library schools will be given the opportunity to ask for such
inspection, and to the extent of the funds available for the purpose,
the inspection will be made.
In the light of the facts obtained in such a careful study of the
library schools, it is hoped to make some recommendations which will be
of service to the schools, and to the profession.
On account of the absence of the chairman of the committee from the
country since the first of February, the work has progressed slowly.
For the same reason, this report is submitted without being first
considered and approved by the other members of the committee.
AZARIAH S. ROOT,
Chairman.