The University of Michigan endeavors to conduct its extension service as far as possible through established university channels. Its policy is to render through its extension di vision the largest possible measure of public service comrnensurate with the equipment and facilities of the university. It' is a condition that all extension lectures shall be free to the public and that they shall be so advertised. In one year 1,000 reprints were made for the 300 lectures offered. The total number of auditors reached throughout the State in the year was 71,500. .
. II. Home is no distinct line of demarkation between what is termed university extension and home edu cation, but in general the former may be said to provide for the giving of instruction to groups or classes rather than to individuals. The work is conducted for the most part by teaching in stitutions by means of lectures and other methods which are not comprised within the lines of formal education. It is the extension of the teaching power of an institution beyond the boundaries of regular class-room work. Home education is that which can be ac quired in the home independently of association in groups or classes. It embraces all means of obtaining knowledge which are individual in their nature as distinguished from education acquired through association with other indi viduals by means of classes, study clubs, lec tures, etc. Correspondence schools, reading courses, libraries, museums and other similar sources all offer a means of securing an educa tion without the formal instruction assodated with class-rootn work.
Purpose. — A very large proportion of our population leave school before completing either the high school or grammar school course. Within a few years many of these people realize their educational limitations but because of age, hours of labor, financial condition or other reasons it is impracticable for them to re sume a course of study in an educational insti tution. University extension courses and home education facilities are designed to meet the needs of such persons and of all who for any reason desire to continue their studies. The recent increase in the number of persons tak ing correspondence courses is the best testi mony of the need of educational facilities to supplement those of our regular schools, col leges and universities. To obtain an education through individual effort without the personal guidance and inspiration of a teacher requires determination and perseverance, and those who talce advantage of these supplementary educa tional opportunities show evidence of a real de sire and serious purpose to acquire an educa tion. There are certain benefits to be derived from formal class instruction which cannot be obtained in any other way, but the serious and ambitious student may find in the United States ample opportunity to pursue his studies in his leisure hours at little or no expense.
Methods.— 1. Libraries.— These are well termed °the people's university° for they con stitute the most universal, most accessible and most economical source for self-education. They are storehouses of knowledge which is made readily available to readers by modern methods of classification, cataloging and index ing. Nearly all large libraries in this country are equipped with the latest and best biblio graphical aids so that the student has every pos sible means of assistance at hand. Our libraries are great laboratories for research and are in creasingly frequented by those seelcing informa tion on all sorts of subjects. Ordinarily only such restraints with regard to the use of the books are imposed as are necessary to protect the rights of readers, and serious students are frequently granted special privileges. Within recent years all libraries have become much more liberal in their service to the public and have been transformed into active rather than passive educational institutions. ((There is a sense in which the school may be looked upon as a fairer test of community opportunity than the library. The school is compulsory; it im presses people most during their most impres sionable period. On the other hand the library reaches old as well as young. Once established it remains as a centre for the distribution of knowledge and hence of opportunity.° 2. Traveling libraries.— In some States li brary facilities, to a certain degree at least, are at the disposal of every citizen even though there may be no library in his local community. This distribution of books is accomplished by means of traveling libraries in some cases and in others by sending books by parcel post or express from a central public library or agency such as a State library or library commission. In the State of New York both methods are in use, the traveling libraries having been in opera tion since 1893. These traveling libraries are small collections of books, usually in units of 25 volumes, which are sent anywhere in the State without charge on condition that the books shall be for the free use of the public. These libraries are intended primarily for com munities without any free library facilities but under certain conditions they are sent also to small public libraries. There is a wide use of these libraries also by schools, study clubs. and various organizations, and many °house libra ries° of 10 volumes are borrowed by individuals. Institutions or individuals wanting only a few books for a month or less may procure them from the New York State Library by paying the return transportation charges. By means of this library extension service any citizen of the State may secure books either fret of all charge or at a merely nominal cost.