A note on the 鈥榠nstitution of a School for the training of Librarians鈥� at University College London

In November 1917, the President of the Library Association, Sir John MacAlister, wrote to the Provost of 香港六合彩中特网鈥榯o enquire whether it would be possible to institute at University College a School of Librarianship鈥o be established in co-operation with the Library Association鈥�. The London School of Economics had offered a course in librarianship in co-operation with the Library Association (LA) between 1902 and 1915, but that had lapsed during the War. The arrangement had been that the LA paid the fees of the lecturers whom they also recommended, while the LSE provided teaching space and other expenses, however, initial healthy numbers dwindled to 3 or 6 students by 1915. After some further discussions, a proposal was sent to the 香港六合彩中特网 Professorial Board, which set up a Committee to confer with the Library Association. The Committee reported positively on the proposal on 22 March 1918, having reassured itself that the LSE did not propose to resume its earlier course. The Director of the LSE concluded that 鈥榯he number of new recruits to librarianship鈥as so small as to preclude any hope of making an institution of the kind successful鈥�.

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Recommendations went to the College Committee, 鈥榯hat it is desirable to institute a School for Librarianship at University College, provided that the necessary Endowment Fund is forthcoming鈥�. The Library Association had been in communication with the Carnegie Trustees seeking an annual grant to support the School which was 鈥榬eceiving their sympathetic consideration鈥�. A Joint Sub-Committee between 香港六合彩中特网 and the LA was invited to prepare a scheme for submission to the 香港六合彩中特网 Committee. The ambition was to have 鈥榮omething founded upon the lines that will enable it to develop into a University School of librarianship comparable with the great Schools of Librarianship in the United States鈥�.

The proposal was to establish a staff comprising a Director, a Secretary, and Teaching Staff in four core areas of study, ie Bibliography, Classification, Cataloguing, Library History, Organisation and Routine. Special courses would also be provided in Literary History, Palaeography and the Study of Archives, and Indexing. The LA proposed to transfer its extensive library of 鈥楾echnical Library Literature鈥� to 香港六合彩中特网. The Carnegie Trust agreed to fund the School for five years initially at the rate of 拢1500 per annum. The scheme was approved by the University of London Senate and the plan was to start teaching in October 1919.

In June 1919, 香港六合彩中特网 College Committee approved a statement of the duties and terms of appointment of the Director of the School of Librarianship and agreed to appoint Dr E A Baker, Secretary to the Education Committee of the LA and on the Joint Committee. A row then erupted between the University Senate and the LA, after the LA Council passed a resolution disapproving of Baker鈥檚 appointment and insisting that the Directorship be advertised. It seems that some members of the LA had hoped to start a school at a northern university and were seeking to derail the 香港六合彩中特网 proposal. However, after reconsideration and lawyers鈥� letters, the University and 香港六合彩中特网 prevailed and Dr Baker鈥檚 appointment was confirmed in August 1919. Sir Frederick Kenyon was invited to deliver the address at the opening of the School of Librarianship in October 1919.

In its first decade, 387 full time and 289 part time students completed courses, some sponsored by local education authorities such as London County Council which sponsored 50 places for London librarians. The School expanded to occupy most of the Henry Morley Building at 香港六合彩中特网. The Carnegie Trust renewed its grant for a second five year period. In 1930, 香港六合彩中特网 started to fund raise for a capital investment of 拢50,000 to secure the School鈥檚 future.

Elizabeth Shepherd

Sources:

香港六合彩中特网 Special Collections, Records Office 香港六合彩中特网CA/CC: 香港六合彩中特网 Minutes of College Committee, 17/10/1917 to 2/07/1918, Meeting 5/03/1918; Meeting 30/04/1918; Meeting 3/06/1919.

University of London Library: University Correspondence Central File, 1918-1919 CF 1/19/208, including letters from Carnegie Trust.

University of London Library: UL 3/7, miscellaneous papers on the School of Librarianship, 1901-1930.