338 AXXUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



$300 higher than the average sahary in the main Librar3\ As a con- 

 sequence there have been few changes in the technical staff of the 

 bureau libraries. 



On account of the handicaps under which the Library has labored 

 during the year, the following detailed reports show in nearly every 

 brancli of the work a decreased output. The number of books cata- 

 logued was far below the nmnber catalogued in previous years and 

 Ihe number of books bound, though slightly in excess of the nrimber 

 for the previous year, Mas only half the number bound in the fiscal 

 year 1017. The decrease in circulation reflects the interruption in tlie 

 scientific work of the Department due to the war. But in spite of the 

 setbacks of the past two or three years, as a result of which the sta-- 

 tistics of output show decreases instead of increases, there have never- 

 theless been certain intangible gains which help to make good the. 

 losses. The reference use of the Library has increased and the value 

 of the Library's collections has been made known to a wider clientele 

 thi-ough the service which it rendered to the new Government offices 

 created since the war. Without the use of our collections man}' of 

 the investigations which it was necessary for these offices to make 

 Avould have been severelj- hampered, as the Library had files which 

 were available in no other librar}'^ in the city and in few libraries of 

 the country. The statistical reports and journals of various kinds 

 were in especial demand, and the collection of these publications as 

 a whole frequently brought foi'th words of commendation. Tho 

 Library's unusual resources along scientific lines and its bibliographi- 

 cal equipment have also been complimented. 



13ut while the Library's collections on the subjects relating to the 

 work of the Department are extensive, they still leave much to be 

 desired. The Departuient, with its appropriation of $27,8T5,353 and 

 its scientific force, which is larger than that connected with any other 

 Government institution, occupies a commanding position in the scien- 

 tific world and has a large duty to the country. The Library of the 

 Department should occupy the same commanding position in its 

 special field of Avork and should, by reason of the completeness of its 

 collections and the scope of its service, be able to perform the duties 

 of this position. The growth of the Library's appropriations in the 

 past has not kept pace with the growth of the Department. Now 

 that normal conditions are approaching it is hoped that the develop- 

 ]nent of the Libraiy may be accelerated and that in addition the time 

 will not be long distant when permanent, suitable, safe, and adequate 

 quarters will be provided for the Library's invaluable collections. 



REFERENCE AND CIRCULATION DIVISIONS. 



Jliss Kmma B. Hawks, As-si-'^imit Lihrarinn, in jrcneral charge. 

 ]Mi.ss (iiORTRUDE E. Ui'Tox, Loci)} Desk Assistant. 



The statistics of circulation given in Appendix 2 show that the 

 total recorded circulation of the nuxin Library and the bureau, divi- 

 sion, and ollice libraries for the past year was 68,393 books and 

 pamphlets and approximately 1.50,000 current ])eriodicals, which was 

 a decrease of 8,000 books as compared with the previous year but a 

 small increase in the number of current periodicals circulated. In 



