Background
Conant, Ralph Wendell was born on September 7, 1926 in South Hope, Maine, United States. Son of Earle Raymond Conant and Margaret Verrill (Long) Young.
(This is the first comprehensive examination of library ed...)
This is the first comprehensive examination of library education since the Williamson Report of 1921 and 1923. Based on an ALA-sponsored survey, The Conant Report is the result of hundreds of interviews with library educators, students, working professionals, and leaders in the field who were asked to discuss what they feel is at fault in the present system of library education (the master's degree program), as well as those areas where they feel the programs are successful. The report concludes with recommendations for major, controversial reforms. The book presents the results of interviews with faculty, students, alumnae, and library administrators, gathering their ideas and opinions about such topics as the proper mix of courses stressing theory and concept and those that are more practical and vocational; the extension of the usual one-year program to two years to allow more thorough coverage, specialization, and internships; the intellectual level of library coursework generally; arrangements for and the desirability of acquiring specializations in the master's degree programs; additional undergraduate coursework; vocational guidance; quality of teaching staff; and especially the ways in which library educators fulfill their task of acting as gatekeepers for the profession. The graduate schools selected for study were Columbia, Berkeley, Chicago, Arizona, Washington, Fullerton, Illinois, UCLA, Case Western Reserve, Michigan, Simmons College, Rutgers, Florida, Kentucky, and Alabama. A final chapter analyzes the results of these interviews and recommends changes that include separating professional and nonprofessional training (which would probably reduce the number of graduate library programs and their enrollments), improving the accrediting process, and making major changes in the recruitment and training of library school faculty.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262030721/?tag=2022091-20
academic administrator educator writer
Conant, Ralph Wendell was born on September 7, 1926 in South Hope, Maine, United States. Son of Earle Raymond Conant and Margaret Verrill (Long) Young.
Bachelor, University Vermont, 1949. Master of Arts, University Chicago, 1954. Doctor of Philosophy, University Chicago, 1959.
Assistant professor Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Michigan, 1955-1957. Research associate National Municipal League, New York City, 1957-1959. Assistant professor University Denver, 1960-1962.
Assistant director Joint Center for Urban Studies, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1962-1967. Associate director Center for Study of Violence, Brandeis University, Waltham, 1967-1969. President Southwest Center for Urban Research, Houston, 1969-1975, Shimer College, Mount Carroll, Illinois, 1975-1978, Unity (Maine) College, 1978-1980, Conant Associates, Winslow, Maine, 1980-1987.
Dean Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York, 1987-1989. Senior fellow Phelps Stokes Fund, New York City, since 1989.
(This is the first comprehensive examination of library ed...)
(Book by Conant, Ralph Wendell, Myers, Daniel J.)
Executive director Citizens for Michigan, 1959-1960. Trustee Shimer College, since 1978. Chairman Shimer College Foundation, since 1982.
Candidate United States Congress, 1st District, Maine, 1982, 86. Member Democratic State Committee, 1984-1992, Maine State Board Education, 1985-1990.
Married Audrey Florence Karl, August 27, 1950 (deceased February, 2001). Children: Beverlie Elaine, Lisa Audrey, Jonathan Arnold (deceased).