THE LIBRARY. 667 



vioiisly pointed out, one of the most pressing needs of the Library is 

 a separate room which can be used for the work of unpacking, sorting, 

 and temporary storage. 



BINDING. 



The number of books and periodicals bound durwg the past year 

 •was 3,274, an increase of 29 over the previous year. "While the past 

 two years have shown a considerable increase over previous years in 

 the number of books bound, the number bound is as yet far from 

 being commensurate with the needs of the Library. It. is hoped that 

 it will be possible during the coming year to devote more time to 

 this work. With the bookshelves filled "to overflowing as they are it 

 is especially important that the periodicals and serials be bound 

 promptly, to reduce the danger of loss by misplacement. 



In addition to the 3,274 volumes sent to the Government bindery, 

 1,510 volumes of periodicals were put in temporary binders, an in- 

 ■crease of 1,382 over the previous year. As explained in the report 

 of last year, these temporary binders are used for periodicals which 

 need to be preserved but are not so frequently used as to justify per- 

 manent binding. They are also used for incomplete volumes, as they 

 permit of the insertion of the missing numbers when they are ob- 

 tained, and in the meantime keep the file in an orderly condition, in 

 a form convenient for use. The use of these temporary binders has 

 done much to improve the appearance of the Library by reducing the 

 amount of unbound material on the shelves. 



DUPLICATES. 



The list of duplicates referred to in the report of last year as be- 

 ing in preparation was printed in October, 1910, and distributed to 

 the libraries of the State agricultural colleges and experiment sta- 

 tions. The list contained 6^3 titles and represented approximately 

 2.000 books and pamphlets. All but about 50 were requested and dis- 

 tributed. The demands for the duplicates were greater than was ex- 

 pected and would seem to warrant the Library in continuing to pre- 

 pare lists of them for distribution to the State agricultural colleges 

 and experiment stations. A large number of duplicates have ac- 

 cumulated since the preparation of the list in October, 1910, and a 

 neAv list will l3e distributed some time during the coming fall. They 

 consist in large part of Government, State, and society publications. 

 The limited space available for handling and storing the duplicates 

 has greatly hampered the work. It is difficult to spare the services 

 of an assistant for this work, but the lack of storage room makes it 

 imperative either to continue the present practice or to destroy the 

 duplicates as they are received. The latter course seems scarcely 

 justifiable, if any considerable number of them are of value to the 

 agricultnral colleges and experiment stations. 



TRANSLATING. 



During the year 4j54 foreign letters were referred to the Library 

 for translation by the Library translator. In addition, 15 articles, 

 comprising 104 pages, were translated. 



