the College of Charleston, the defunct Elliott Society, the 

 Medical Society, and private libraries throughout the city. So 

 much time was required to determine whether any particular 

 book might be found in these various collections that the Museum 

 began a card catalog of the books pertaining to its work in these 

 various libraries. During the first year this cataloging was done 

 by the Director; in the second year Mrs. Paul M. Rea volun- 

 teered for the work ; then for two years it was possible to employ 

 for six hours per week the College Librarian, Miss Frances Jervey ; 

 while in the past year Mr. H. R. Sass of the staff has acted as 

 librarian. 



During this time a real library has been created in the Museum. 

 The nucleus was found in the books on biology and geology in 

 the College of Charleston Library. These were deposited in the 

 Museum by the College and included, besides many rare old books, 

 nearly complete series of important government publications. 

 New books were at first obtained by the department of biology 

 and geology in the College, but gradually the Museum became 

 able to purchase from time to time, and through the publica- 

 tion of the Bulletin obtained many valuable exchanges from 

 other museums. 



For a long time there seemed no hope of obtaining the past or 

 present publications of important learned societies here and 

 abroad. Then an arrangement was concluded whereby the 

 Museum became the custodian of the Elliott Society library con- 

 taining long, but unfortunately often incomplete, series of just 

 this character and as soon as the Museum has funds for publica- 

 tion of research papers these exchanges can be permanently 

 continued. 



As an indication of the present scope of the library the follow- 

 ing list of learned societies whose publications are now on the 



shelves, is of interest. 



52 



