LIBRARY OF THE MUSEUM 



The function of the Museum's Library is intimately related to the 

 needs and plans of the four scientific departments of the Museum, 

 which are dedicated to ever-further advancement through research 

 in their respective fields. Thus the Library has continued to add 

 current materials to its collections, and acquisition of scientific 

 journals continues to be a matter of supreme importance. The total 

 number of items received for the year by the Library is 15,315 

 (see a selected list of books and serials on page 108). 



The amount and character of work in our Library undergo 

 constant change that necessitates reorganization of plans and pro- 

 grams. Monthly staff meetings have been held for discussion of new 

 problems, and this exchange of ideas and methods has resulted in 

 better understanding of each individual's special duties so that the 

 flow of work from one section of the Library to another has con- 

 tinued without interruption despite handicaps of illness and changes 

 in members of the staff. 



The reactivation of the Division of Oceanic Archaeology and 

 Ethnology in the Department of Anthropology necessitated a new 

 survey of the book collection so that this division's holdings could be 

 brought up to date. Acting on recommendations made by the 

 recently appointed curator, Roland W. Force, an expert in this area 

 of research, the Library succeeded in supplementing its holdings in 

 this specific field, giving particular attention to filling gaps in serial 

 holdings and to new journals. The need for additional maps in this 

 division as well as in all other scientific divisions of the Museum is 

 great. Many of the maps now in the Library are not easily avail- 

 able because the map collection has rapidly outgrown the present 

 equipment for its proper filing and housing, and plans are in prog- 

 ress for adding more map cases. 



The maintainance of the card catalogue, which serves as an 

 author, title, and subject-index of a library's holdings, is an in- 

 tensive and never-ending task even in those libraries that have 

 passed the peak of their expansion. In addition to filing new cards, 

 constant revision of the contents of the card catalogue is necessary 

 in order to record changes in names of organizations, cessation or 

 recommencement of publication of journals, death of authors 

 (which requires addition of final date on all cards covering their 

 works), and countless other minor amendments. A library such as 

 that of Chicago Natural History Museum, which continues to show 

 an increase in acquisitions year after year, must also make provision 

 for accurate representation in the catalogue of all new material, both 



67 



