Library Education on Trial

A NEW L.A. exam syllabus is now in force. Some faults of the old head‐screw remain. Notably that bag o' bones which has rattled dryly down the wind ever since our exams began: Eng. Lit. from Beowulf to the Sitwells in one three‐hour paper with ne'er a scrape of marrow. Chartered “liberians” with no more Literature than a Hottentot—to celebrate our centenary! Another fault is the division into unequal periods of Literature for the Final. But perhaps Chaucer House would lack character without a grinning hoodoo to bedevil Literature. On the whole the syllabus has more strength and accommodation. Signs are that sense does penetrate: for examples, examining classification and cataloguing together, the study of named reference books, and encouragement to more varied librarianship.