REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Office of the Librarian, 

 Washington, D. C, September 30, 1918. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the executive report of 

 the Library for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1918. 

 Respectfully, 



Claribel R. Barnett, Librarian. 

 Hon. D. F. Houston, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WORK OF THE YEAR. 



The war has affected the work of the Library during the past year 

 in a number of ways. In certain departments the work has increased 

 decidedlj'^, while in others a decrease has been noticeable. Taken as 

 a whole the year was one of progress. In spite of the handicap of 

 insufficient assistance, the Library and its branches have lieen brought 

 into more vital relation with the Department, with other Depart- 

 ments of the Government, and with institutions and libraries 

 throughout the country. New activities have been begun and new 

 contacts have been made which it is believed will enable the Library 

 to be of still greater usefulness in the future and to approximate 

 more nearly the service which a natixDiial agricultural library should 

 render. 



REFERENCE AND LOAN DIVISIONS. 



Sliss Emma B. Hawks, Assistant Libra rian, in general charge. 

 Miss Mary G. Lacy, Reference Li'brarian. ' 

 » Miss Gertrude E. Upton, Loan Desk Assistant. 



The most noticeable effect of the war on the work of the Library 

 has been in the reference and loan divisions. While a decrease has 

 occurred in the number of books circulated, the reference work of the 

 main Library and the bureau and division libraries has increased 

 greatly. This increase is due to two causes, first, the war activities 

 of this and other Government departments, which have given rise to 

 many new lines of investigation more or less directly associated 

 with them, ahd, second, the creation by the Government of various 

 new offices and bureaus for the prosecution of the work of the war. 

 All of these new offices need librarj'^ facilities in a greater or less 

 degree and none are provided with them to the extent of their needs. 

 This has put upon the established libraries of the Government the 



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