14 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 



LIBRARY. 



As one of the libraries administered under the direction of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, the Museum library enjoys the close co- 

 operation of its associated libraries, and in turn contributes sub- 

 stantially toward the general library activities. 



Much has been accomplished during the year toward better library 

 service. A much-needed subject catalogue has been started, and at 

 the close of the year 4,400 cards had been made and arranged. 

 The arrangement of cards from the Concilium Bibliographicum, 

 distributed since the World War, is well under way, and progress is 

 being made in the reclassification and shelving of the technological 

 collections. Nevertheless, the work has greatly suffered from a 

 vacancy in the staff during eight months of the year, and from a 

 lack of funds for binding and renovating. Only 293 books could 

 be bound. 



The widespread interest of members of the staff and friends of 

 the Museum is shown by the material donated during the year, and 

 valuable material has continued to come in exchange from the 

 museums, research organizations, and scientific societies at home 

 and abroad. The receipts for the year numbered 1,489 volumes and 

 2,796 pamphlets, bringing up the total of books and other material 

 in the library to 160,560. The number of loans was 9,220, of which 

 5,191 were to the sectional libraries. 



PHOTOGRAPHIC LABORATORY. 



In illustrating Museum objects for reproduction in publications 

 and for record purposes and in copying plans, diagrams, etc., re- 

 quired in connection with the work of the Museum, there were made 

 in the photographic laboratory during the year 2,116 negatives, 

 10,452 black and white prints, 129 cirkut prints, 172 sixteen-inch 

 panoram prints, 339 lantern slides, 13 transparencies, 125 enlarge- 

 ments, besides developing 625 field negatives and mounting 32 

 prints. The fitting up of a special room for making lantern slides 

 is greatly needed. 



BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT. 



The National Museum, in its own buildings and in the Smith- 

 sonian Building, occupies an aggregate floor space of over 670,000 

 square feet, or over 15^ acres, with roof area of approximately 5| 

 acres, and some 2,000 windows. The upkeep is necessarily consid- 

 erable, especially when it is recalled that the Smithsonian Building 

 has been built for nearly 70 years, the Arts and Industries Building 

 about 43 years, and the so-called South Shed about 25 years. The 



