578 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [DeC, 



Shipments from Germany and Austria were stopped by a British 

 Order in Council in June. We are informed, however, that the 

 British Government is now prepared to issue permits for shipment 

 of scientific books to the United States from Germany and Austria 

 if destined for universities, colleges, scientific societies or public 

 bodies. We may profit during the coming year by this relaxation, 

 although it is accompanied by a great deal of annoying red tape. 



The interruption of exchange noted in the report of the Recording 

 Secretary of course greatly affects the receipts from corresponding 

 societies. Even when regular shipments are made invoices and 

 bills of lading are held up on the other side and insufficient steamer 

 accommodations cause uncertain deliveries. 



Chapter IX, Art. 3, of the By-Laws was amended in January so 

 as to permit of the loaning to members of certain books specified by 

 the Librarian and the Library Committee for a period not exceeding 

 one month. 



Although it was held Ijy Maclure and his contemporaries that all 

 books belonging to the Academy should be exclusively for use within 

 the building, both for the good of those working on the premises 

 and to lessen the danger of loss, it was considered that such a rule 

 was not practicable until the services of a Librarian during portions 

 of the day could be secured. Certain designated books were there- 

 fore permitted to be borrowed until 1850, Avhen Thomas B. Wilson 

 presented to the Academy the extremely valuable works which he 

 had from time to time deposited with the understanding that they 

 should never be loaned on any condition. This applied to such an 

 important portion of the Lil^rary that the rule was then made 

 general and from 1850 until last January no books were knowingly 

 allowed to leave the building except to be bound. 



Since the new rule has been in operation forty-six works in fifty- 

 eight volumes have been borrowed. These have all been returned 

 but two, which are now alone outstanding. 



A system of registry of works taken for use in the Academy's 

 study rooms has been adopted. 822 titles in 1,061 volumes have 

 been placed at the service of students and workers in the building. 

 375 of these are still in use. 



While a few of the books taken from the building have manifestly 

 been for more or less desultory reading, the others have undoubtedly 

 been for serious consultation and study, so that there is reason to believe 

 that the operation of the new law is, as far as it goes, for the advance- 

 ment of science without any counterbalancing disadvantage. By 



