8 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



As a part of the publication program of the Institution, much atten- 

 tion has been given in the course of the past year to consideration of 

 certain modifications in our procedure relating to 

 D pub r ii b C ations! f distribution of volumes issued through the Institu- 

 tion's series. As the works are made available for 

 libraries and for investigators without expectation of profit, our sole 

 object has been so to organize the machinery that we may be certain to 

 reach students and researchers who can use the results to advantage. 

 This object is being attained by very careful consideration of distribu- 

 tion lists, and at the same time by placing the books on sale for those 

 who are not within easy reach of libraries containing the Carnegie 

 Institution's publications but would gladly buy such as they need. 



Within the past year we have had in active operation a system by 

 which we have increased the number of libraries and scientific agencies 

 to which our publications are forwarded. This extension has been 

 accomplished by sending partial sets to institutions having only a 

 limited requirement, such as astronomical observatories, biological 

 stations, and chemical laboratories, and by increasing the number of 

 individual copies sent to investigators or students naturally concerned 

 with or interested in the subjects presented. Recently arrangement 

 has been made by which, through submission of special lists prepared 

 by authors, individual copies of new works not to exceed the number 

 of 150 may be made available to distinguished investigators. 



By careful distribution it has been possible to reach almost imme- 

 diately a considerably increased group of individuals, laboratories, 

 and libraries and thus make the results of our investigations touch 

 the scientific work of the world within a comparatively short period. 

 At the same time it has been necessary to guard the lists lest pressure 

 for distribution tend to increase editions to such an extent that it would 

 seem necessary to add to publication investment by taking away from 

 the funds so much needed for development and extension of our 

 researches. The plan now in use seems to find favor by presenting 

 our results quickly and realizing larger dividends on the investment 

 of effort. 



As an important means of carrying out the aims of the Institution 

 in several directions, numerous conferences of groups of distinguished 

 investigators have been held during this year. The 

 Conferences. Committee on Problems of Human Behavior, con- 

 sisting of E. G. Conklin, Charles B. Davenport, 

 C. E. Seashore, E. L. Thorndike, Clark Wissler, and Robert M. 



