REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN. 13 



V. REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN 

 DECEMBER 31, 1924. 



Along with the start of a new library building made a year ago, 

 there has been a steady effort on the part of the Library Staff to 

 so adapt their activities that, with the least expenditure of money 

 and effort, our acquisitions and our new arrangements should fall 

 into ready adjustment with the new and enlarged quarters. 

 Even before the beginning of the year of 1924, a special sum had, 

 at the request of the Assistant Librarian and of the Library 

 Committee, been granted for the purchase of back sets a sum of 

 $400.00, this entirely outside the appropriation for the years 1923 

 and 1924. At the same time $350.00 had been granted for the 

 employment of a secretary for at least a part of the year 1924. A 

 start in purchasing back sets of serials was therefore well begun by 

 January I, 1924 and on the first of May the services of a secretary- 

 stenographer were secured. With this kind of help, the Assistant 

 Librarian has felt that work of real value to the Library has gotten 

 under way. 



The Assistant Librarian was also authorized to anticipate the 

 use of a sum of $4,000.00 that would be available before the 

 expiration of the year 1924 from the accumulation of the endow- 

 ment fund ; this was used in the purchase of back sets in the early 

 spring that would, a few months later, have been unavailable. 

 These were German sets for sale in this country, not as yet 

 affected by the great jump made in German prices. During the 

 late spring, extensive orders were placed in England with Heffer, 

 and still later information showed France and French sets to be 

 the best sales available. Certain sets of American journals were 

 ordered at this same time, at high prices, but only where sets were 

 out of print and no lessening of price could ever be anticipated. 

 A detailed listing of the sets ordered and come into our actual 

 possession during the year 1924 will follow later with the state- 

 ment of other acquisitions. 



On September 20, the Secretary of the Executive Committee 

 handed a statement to the Assistant Librarian authorizing a 

 provisional budget of $6,500.00 for the year 1925 as well as the 

 use of a further sum of something over $2,500.00 for the year 



