LIBRARY. 339 



connection with these statistics it should be exphiined, however, that 

 they repre.'-oiit only approxiniateh' the use of the Library, as no circu- 

 lation statistics are kept in several of the branch libraries and no 

 record of the reference use is kept in any of the libraries. 



The average number of books charged at the loan desk of the main 

 Library each month Avas 3,038, compared Avitli 3,370 in the previous 

 year. The average daily circulation was 120, compared vv'ith 132 in 

 the previous 3'ear. A table showing the circulation sta- 

 tistics of the main Librar}' by months and years for the last 10 fiscal 

 years, exclusive of the circulation of current periodicals, is given in 

 Appendix, 3. From this statement it will be seen that the highest 

 peak in the circulation was reached in the fiscal year 191G and that 

 there has been a decline of 25 per cent in the last three 3'ears due to 

 war conditions and the consequent interruption of much of the scien- 

 tific work of the Department. While the table gives only the circu- 

 lation statistics of the main Library, most of the reports of the brancli 

 libraries show the same relative decrease in circulation since the war. 



INTERLIBRARY LOANS. 



The number of books lent to libraries, institutions, and individuals 

 outside of the city was 658, a decrease*of 235 compared with the pre- 

 "• ious year, likewise due to war conditions. To the total number of 

 boolvs lent should be added 115 photostat copies and 11 typewritten 

 copies, making the total use outside of the city 820. 



The numljer of books borrowed from other libraries in the city 

 Avas 5.02G, an increase of 309 over the number borrowed tlie previous 

 year. The number of books borroAved from libraries outside of the 

 city was TO, or double the number borrowed the previous year. The 

 largest number borrowed from any one library was 22", borroAved 

 from tlie Lloyd Library. Cincinnati, Ohio. 



Further detailed statistics in regard to interlibrary loans are given 

 in Appendices 4 and 5. 



CATALOGUE AND ORDER DIVISION. 



Miss Helen IM. Thompson, Chief. 

 ACCESSIONS. 



The total number of catalogued books, pamphlets, and maps added 

 to the Library during the year was 6,015, a decrease of 1,778 com- 

 13ared Avith the catalogued accessions of the previous year. To the 

 6,045 catalogued accessions should, hoAvcAer, ])e added 1,554 books, 

 pamphlets, and maps Avhich were acquired during the year but not 

 catalogued, making the total accessions 7,599, a decrease of 635 com- 

 pared Avith the previous year. Tliis decrease Avas due to the con- 

 tinued difficulty in obtaining books and periodicals from foreign 

 countries, inchiding exchanges, as Avell as purchases, to the decreased 

 lunnber of Aolumes acquired by binding periodicals, and, lastly, to 

 the fact that it has not been pcssi])le to spend as much time in the 

 work of acquiring exchanges on account of lack of assistance. JVIore 

 detailed statistics of the accessions of the year compared Avitli 

 previous years are giA'en in Appendix 0. 



