The Library World Volume 16 Issue 1

THE method of conducting some of the Library Association professional examinations at provincial centres this year has given rise to a certain degree of adverse comment. We have received a letter from the National Union of Clerks, signed Mr. Herbert H. Elvin, the General Secretary, in which it is stated that "If it is intended that the Library Association examination should take a place amongst the recognised professional examinations some enquiry should be made as to the methods adopted in the various local centres for the supervision of the candidates." After giving some particulars, the letter proceeds: "If examinations are to be held, would it not be better to abolish local centres altogether, and hold the examination in London, where all candidates might be sure of receiving the same treatment?" At the Annual Meeting of the Library Assistants' Association at Nottingham the other day, numerous complaints of a similar nature were made, of which particulars are given in the current Library Assistant. No doubt special local circumstances affected the administration of the examinations to a considerable extent, but even making allowances for this, there seems to be plenty of room for reform and improvement.