Munich to Manhattan: German Bibliothekswissenschaft and the Beginnings of North American Library Science Education

Abstract

The achievements of German librarians in establishing Bibliothekswissenschaft—the science of libraries—were internationally acknowledged in the nineteenth century. The first part of this article traces the evolution of the theoretical discussion of Bibliothekswissenschaft in Germany from Schrettinger to Graesel. The second part of the article explores the extent to which this theoretical debate was translated into practice in early library science education. It contends that while there was a gulf between theory and practice in Germany, Bibliothekswissenschaft fell on more fertile ground in North America. In particular, the syllabus adopted at Columbia College in 1887—the first library science curriculum in the United States—can be seen to reflect German ideas on the scope and structure of Bibliothekswissenschaft, with the push for professionalisation as a significant common factor.