Short These are elementary courses of three or more weeks' duration, usu ally given in the summer months and chiefly intended to aid librarians in small public or school libraries or in subordinate positions in large libraries. They are rather numerous and, without any generally accepted standard. They fall, for the most part, into one of four classes: (1) Those conducted independ ently by State library commissions as in Indi ana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; (2) those given by library schools, with or without the co-operation of library commissions, e.g., the summer course of the New York State, University of Illinois, Simmons College and University of Wisconsin library schools; (3) those given as summer courses by colleges, universities and normal schools as at the universities of California, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri and at Columbia University; (4) the independent short course, represented by the Chautauqua (N. Y.) School for librarians.
School, College and University Courses. —These, unlike the "short courses," are usually a part of the regular curriculum. Secondary and normal school courses usually emphasize the reference use of books, the wider reading of good books and the intelligent use of libraries. Many normal school courses include the ele ments of library organization and management, especially of school libraries. These courses, which are increasing in number, vary widely in scope and value. College and university courses vary from courses similar to those given by normal schools or apprentice classes for student assistants, to advanced work in bibliography or library technique.
Miscellaneous Many library commissions conduct local library conferences or of from one day to two weeks' duration. The American Library Association and many State and local library associations regularly hold meetings for professional dis cussion. These meetings are important aux iliary forces in promoting professional spirit and encouraging library training. Several States library organizers who give per sonal instruction in library matters to librarians whose libraries they inspect or organize. Corre spondence and extension courses in library work have so far made little material progress.
The near future will probably see important developments in both directions.
Library Training Outside the United early as 1877, Italy, had prescribed examinations for library positions but, as a whole, libraries outside the United States still depend chiefly on the apprentice system to re cruit their staffs. Most of the training given is primarily bibliographical. Extended service and rigid examinations are required in Prussia and Bavaria, and schools for women librarians are maintained in Berlin and Leipzig.
In England, regular extension courses in library subjects, with prescribed examinations, are held under the auspices of the Library Association, chiefly to provide assistants for the public libraries.
In Canada, summer courses have been held at McGill University, Montreal. A nine weeks course is regularly conducted by the Ontario Department at Toronto.
The number of Scandinavian librarians trained in American library schools is steadily increasing. Norway has elementary library courses, in the interest of the rural libraries, in most of her normal schools, and several general library summer courses have been held.
Successful library courses, modeled on American lines, were conducted by Mme. Haff kin-Hamburger, at Shaniawsky University, Mos cow, 1913-17. In India two library courses have been established: at .Baroda by W. A. Borden and at the University of Lahore by A. D. Dickinson.
Cannons, H. G. T., 'Bibli ography of Library Economy' (London 1910); 'Librarianship as a Profession' (Albany 1912); Plununer, Mary W., 'Training for Librarian ship' (Chicago 1913) ; 'Library Instruction in Universities, Colleges and Normal Schools' (United States Bureau of Education, Bulletin 606; Washington 1914). For library schools and short courses consult current American Library Annual, New York; 'First Quarter Century of the New York State Library School' (Albany 1912) ; the circulars of the various schools and library commissions; Amer ican Library Association Proceedings, 1917; Reports of the Committees on Summer Schools and Apprentice Training Classes (Chicago 1917).