Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ... natural history of the intellect;" W. D. Howells's on "New Italian literature;" Professor Hadley's on "Roman law;" John Fiske's on "Positive philosophy," and many others. The system was not altogether a success at Harvard. President Eliot, in a public address in Baltimore, February 22, 1878, said: "I have seen the results of this plan at Harvard, where they short lecture courses were k/ipt up for some time, but I do not consider them very profitable. The result, as I observed it, was that they encouraged short, detached work, not that year by year."1 This is undoubtedly the defect of all such courses, unless duly coordinated with private reading or regular class instruction. iv. Universitv Extension In America. This subject was first publicly presented in the United States at a meeting of the American Library Association in their session upon one of the Thousand Islands in September, 1887. The well-known English system, as adapted to American local needs, was promptly taken up by public-spirited American librarians in Buffalo, N. Y.,2 in Chicago, and in St. Louis. In all three cities and in many others, west and south, the idea was gradually developed and extended by the co-operation of university graduates with libraries, churches, and other local institutions. The subject was first publicly presented in Philadelphia March 11, 1891, at the galleries of the Art Club, Dr. James MacAlister presiding. New York beginnings.--In January, 1888, Melvil Dewey, then chief librarian of Columbia University, laid the plan before the regents of the University of the State of New York, and at the university convocation in Albany, July, 1888, advocated university extension in connection with public libraries. A year later he again brought the matter...
