REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, 1915. 21 



world. Each such Hbrary receives a full set of these publications, 

 and additions thereto are promptly forwarded to each. Some- 

 thing less than three hundred libraries were originalh^ selected 

 for this Omnia List. It is subject to constant revision and exten- 

 sion, and now embraces about three hundred and twenty entries. 

 Libraries found inefficient to the communities in which they are 

 placed, or inattentive in acknowledging receipt of accessions 

 from the Institution, are summarily dropped. It is a somewhat 

 depressing fact that many libraries, still so-called, seem to exist 

 only for the benefit of curators and bookbinders. On the other 

 hand, the number of efficient libraries is now rapidly increasing, 

 so that one who makes much use of books may no longer afford 

 to own and to care for books if he is in the near vicinity of an 

 efficient library. 



To meet the needs of special societies and of individuals, as 

 well as of certain establishments, hke the British Museum, which 

 quite rationally prefer to purchase publications instead of receiv- 

 ing them gratuitously, all of the Institution's publications are 

 offered for sale at nominal prices, which are only just sufficient 

 to cover the costs of bookmaking and transportation to pur- 

 chasers. These prices are only about half as great as those which 

 would be charged by commercial publishing houses for books of 

 the same general character but printed on inferior or perishable 

 paper. When the world comes to understand the economic 

 advantages presented by this method of distribution by sale at 

 cost, it will become practicable to promote the advancement of 

 learning much more effectively than at present. Thus, for 

 example, call is often made upon the Institution for the reproduc- 

 tion of books long out of print. Such reproduction may now be 

 accomplished in a highly satisfactory manner by photographic 

 processes, and it could be done in many cases without detriment 

 to the other work of the Institution if the world were disposed to 

 share the expense involved. 



