32 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



The total amount of funds spent by the Institution for publications up to 

 date is $77, 123.53. The total amount spent for publications during the past 

 fiscal year is $42,431.19. 



It is an obvious requirement in this work to maintain a high standard of 

 excellence, especially in point of the subject-matter published, altho it is 

 equally obvious that the attainment of this end is no easy task. Moreover, 

 a limited income is incompatible with unlimited publications, however 

 abundant worthy contributions may appear to be. Hence follows the neces- 

 sity of declining much of the large amount of material offered for publica- 

 tion. Plainly, also, the Institution may not undertake, in general, the 

 publication of certain classes of works, like text-books, fiction, literary 

 essays, doctorate dissertations, etc. Neither may the Institution appropri- 

 ately provide funds for the publication of such works by commercial estab- 

 lishments. Nor is it practicable for the Institution to enter into partnership 

 relations with authors and publishers, or with other institutions, under 

 copyright privileges and restrictions. 



The tentative rules for the distribution of publications approved by the 

 Executive Committee January 9, 1905, and printed in my previous report, 

 have worked fairly well thus far. A few important libraries for the gra- 

 tuitous receipt of the publications of the In.stitution have been added during 

 the year to the Omnia List, which now includes about 300 of the principal 

 libraries of the world. 



In response to a strong public demand for information concerning the 

 publications of the Institution, an index of carefully selected addresses to 

 which lists of these publications may be sent semi-annually, or quarterly, 

 has been prepared during the j^ear. This index now includes nearly 10,000 

 names of individuals and institutions and it will doubtless need enlarge- 

 ment in the near future. The first issue of the lists was made during the 

 early part of October of this year. 



The question is often asked, "Why does not the Institution publish larger 

 editions of its works and distribute them more freely ? ' ' Probably the time 

 has not arrived when a completely satisfactory an.swer to this question can 

 be given. But in the absence of adequate precedent to guide us it appears 

 to be the part of wisdom to proceed conservatively and let experience point 

 the way. In the meantime it may be stated that nothing short of an edition 

 of 5,000 copies will meet the demand for a gratuitous distribution, while 

 there is thus far no evidence to indicate that our standard edition of i,goo 

 copies will not in general meet all legitimate demands. It should be stated 

 also that there is an actual necessity for reserving a part of these publica- 

 tions for sale, since some institutions and more individuals decline to receive 

 publications gratuitously. 



