326 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the Library have been continued and in some instances expanded, 

 but no new activities have been undertaken. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



In December, 1917, the Library issued its report for the fiscal year 

 1917, a pamphlet of 13 pages. In June, 1918, it issued Library Leaf- 

 let No. 1, entitled " Raise Chickens." This leaflet of four pages, with 

 illustrated cover, contained a list in readable form of publications 

 of the Department on poultry. Similar leaflets entitled " Raise 

 Pigs " and " Raise Sheep," issued as Leaflets Nos. 2 and 3 and con- 

 taining lists of publications of the Department on pigs and sheep, 

 were sent to the printer before July 1, and have since appeared. The 

 illustrations for the covers of these leaflets were contributed by the 

 artist, Mr. C. B. Fall. The leaflets were issued to further an in- 

 telligent interest in the present problems of increased food produc- 

 tion and conservation. 



Four numbers of the multigraphed publication of the Library 

 entitled " Library Notes " were issued during the year. The titles 

 were as follows: No. 3, Directories; No. 4, New serial publications 

 of the Government; No. 5, New book shelves and display case for 

 new bulletin and pamphlet material; No. 6, Bibliographical work, 

 special indexes, directories, and lists of publications in progress in 

 the Department of Agriculture. 



LIBRARY STAFF. 



The number of employees carried on the roll of the main Library 

 at the close of the year was 35, the same as last year; the number 

 employed by the bureau, division, and office libraries was 44. The 

 total number, 79, employed in the main Library and the bureau, 

 division, and office libraries includes 61 librarians, library assistants, 

 and stenographers, 1 translator, 15 messengers, and 2 charwomen. 



While fortunately few changes have taken place in the more respon- 

 sible positions in the main Library and the bureau, division, and 

 office libraries, the changes in the personnel as a whole have been 

 unusually numerous. In the main Library 26 resigned, including two 

 who entered the military service. In some instances a position was 

 vacated two or three times during the year, as it was possible to make 

 only temporary appointments. Out of the main Library's staff of 

 35 on July 1, 1918, 12, or 33 per cent were newly appointed during the 

 year. Of the 26 who resigned, 13 were librar}^ assistants, 2 clerical 

 assistants, and 11 messengers. The present unsettled conditions due 

 to the war and the large number of low-salaried positions on the 

 statutory roll of the Library have been the cause of the resignations. 

 The difficulty of filling these lower positions has been gi'eater than 

 ever before. 



In view of the fact that no Civil Service eligibles were available 

 for appointment to fill the library assistant positions, it was necessary 

 to make temporary appointments, pending the establishment of an 

 eligible register by the Civil Service Commission. On account of the 

 difficulty of finding permanent assistants at the salaries the Library 

 was able to offer, it was decided to take advantage of this opportunity 



