Repository: UIHistories Project: UI Library School Alumni Newsletter - 28 [PAGE 5]

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Alumni News Letter

versity of Illinois Library and Library School, he found :i Library School *h had an alumni body of about 400 matriculants. w "The requirements for admission demanded three y e a n f o college training, road general education, a disciplined mind and maturity a ,*>rtunity was anoraeu iur two years oi sxuay leading to a B I S deJLV T U " C t o r y for ***** * « " * « » volume librjy and the H t a ^ c f c S (iuart ers were over the old stack at the rear of the building^cntry being down Jfrom the balcony around the rotunda of the old Library Building P i c t u r e s ^ I the study room show excellent equipment (the reason I say excellent is that many of the desks, chairs, cases, are still showing service though ~ > - t — - ul: •shabby and squeaky!). The light fixtures were lovely combina f gas mantles and electric globes, with a single fat pendant electric light globe, frosted at the bottom and with very small round shade like a brief balletIkirt representing what was probably the very latest in electric lighting features for libraries in that day. ¥ "I wish I had a picture of the young Mr. Windsor in that setting. I expect he was like many a young man here—fairly recently married, a family of three requiring his care. He probably had all the enthusiasm and eagerness we stress today. We ask about young men who want to be administrators: Is he able? Has he vision, originality, practicality? Is he cooperative, or too aggressive, or conceited, mature? And if occasionally the enthusiasm of youth means an overabundance of a desire to change the world, we say, 'He'll outgrow that trait.' "So I wonder whether all those personal elements which have helped make the successful career of Director Windsor were apparent in the young man who came to Urbana in August, 1909. Was he wise as he now is? Did he immediately become known for his ability to see all sides of a question? Kindliness and the ability to get along with people most certainly have been strong qualities, as well as the courage to state his convictions, a tendency toward flexibility in analysis, and the persistence necessary to accomplishment. "Mr. Windsor did not see the rush of closing a Summer Session back in August, 1909, because no summer session training was being given then. The Library School seems not to have issued a Circular covering the first year of Mr. Windsor's administration, but the year was by no means an inactive one. t "In 1910 the Board of Trustees approved a change in regulations providing that beginning with 1911 only college graduates or those possessing the equivalent in training should be admitted. Miss Katherine L. Sharp had initiated this policy in 1906, but it remained for Mr. Windsor to see it to a happy completion. "Since that time a general glance at the curriculum might show little change in names of courses, but the faculty could tell of many meetings during which extension of courses, selection of essential topics to meet the changing needs of the field, correlation, analysis of course content and method to meet changing professional and academic standards were discussed and decisions made under Mr. Windsor's guidance. .. 'The degree granted continued to be the B.L.S. for two years of study until 1926. For years the first year graduates (or juniors as they were then called) poured complaints concerning their lack of standing in academic and professional fields into the sympathetic ear of Mr. Windsor, who not only listened but acted. Quietly, in his customary manner, he talked about changing the degree—to members of the profession, to alumni of the Library School, to members ot the University faculty—always paving the way for a successful presentation of a new regulation to a University Board of Trustees which might not ^ e r s t a n d nor appreciate the specific problems of the Library School group. When the request for a change in degree policy finally came, it was granted, and Mr Windsor had the pleasure of presenting his first group of candidates for the B.S. in L.S. degree and for the Masters degree to the President at Commence" T o d a ^ i l r Windsor directs a school whose alumni number around 2600 with a yearly registration of about 90 first year students and 40 giadmte students and with a summer session enrollment considerably larger The faculty no longer re staff members and the number has beenyearly doubled Quarters and equipment are very much more extensive, and the University Library of

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