Page:Library Administration, 1898.djvu/44

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THE LIBRARY AND ITS STAFF
27

among over five thousand public librarians must reach a considerable figure. Systematic education, resulting in a diploma, also necessarily tends to heighten the pecuniary value of the librarian, as Mr. Dewey's pupils have had the good fortune to discover.

The school, to quote one of its circulars, "confines itself strictly to its peculiar work, and makes no attempt to give general culture or make up deficiencies of general education. … Not only are the subjects studied closely limited by the end in view, but in their treatment the school methods have less of the usual text-book and recitation, and more of systematic apprenticeship, in which every effort is made to advance the learner rapidly rather than keep him an apprentice as long as possible. …

"The full regular course is two college years, … each divided into three terms." Candidates for admission must be not less than twenty years of age, and show proof, either by examination or by a degree from "a literary college in good standing," that they have a good general education. " As the sole purpose of the school is the advancement of library interests and the elevation of the profession of librarianship, there will be chosen from the applicants of each year only a limited number of those who give the best evidence of fitness to meet satisfactorily the demands of their chosen life-work. The number of admissions to the regular class is thus closely limited; but this does not wholly shut out those who think they may profit by the