400 KEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1!>03. 



lo»;i.sl!iti()ii bulletins since IStM), 10 numbers; history bulletins since 

 1S9S, 8 lunnbers; library school bulletins since i81>l, 3 numbers; 

 public libraries l)ulletins since 181>3, 6 numbers; bibliograph}^ bul- 

 letins since lSil.5, IS numbers; library catalog-ucs since 1856, 9 

 volumes; indexes of university publications since 1897; syllabuses 

 which contain bibliographies; a traveling- library; rinding lists, a 

 mountain-side library, young people's libraries, a library for the blind, 

 etc., in 56 and more numbers; annual lists of best l)ooks since 1895, 

 and others; also many historical publications. In 1898, all told, 

 365,000 copies of such pu])lications appeared. 



This is further distinguished from mau}^ other libraries by the divi- 

 sions for traveling libraries, exchange of duplicates, and the library 

 school. 



Tr(welin<j Ubrarles division. — The special traveling libraries division, 

 which has existed since 1892, contains about 45,000 volumes. Lots of 

 25, 50, 75, or 100 of the best books are lent for six months to pu))lic 

 libraries, to any twent3^-rive taxpayers who meet in one place, to 

 schools, associations for instruction (extension centers), study clubs, 

 reading circles, as well as to any other organizations which are regis- 

 tered as such at the university and need books, for which security is 

 to l)e given, and from 50 cents to $4 each is paid for transportation 

 expenses. One hundred volumes are, for example, divided into riction 

 (22 per cent), history (18 per cent), biology (13 per cent), travels (11 

 per cent), science and useful arts (9 per cent), sociology (5 per cent), 

 religion and ethics (4 per cent), rine arts (3 i)er cent), other literature 

 (15 per cent). There are forty-one such miscellaneous sets, several 

 of which have been duplicated ten times. The percentage of each sub- 

 ject represented is, of course, not always the same in the different sets. 

 There are, moreover, seventeen collections of 25 or 50 volumes each on 

 special subjects, such as political econom}^ finance, agriculture, French 

 history, history of the United States, literature, etc. For these sets 

 the best books in the English language are selected. There are also 

 collected and lent out small libraries which relate not only to a spe- 

 cial subject, but which also include what is more remotely connected 

 with this subject and which therefore encourage the student to con- 

 sider and stud}" any particular question from every point of view. 

 Such assortments of books are called environment libraries. Teachers, 

 study clubs, and reading circles may themselves select books from 

 the lists to a total value of $100 (combined libraries) and take them 

 on the same conditions. For purposes of instruction teachers may 

 also get as many copies of one and the same book as they may need 

 for their pupils. The average price of each book may be placed at 

 al)out ^\. The books are sent out in handsome locked oak cases, 

 which cost about $14 for every hundred volumes. Exact statistics 

 regarding their use are returned to the library, which incloses in each 

 book a card for this purpose. In 1899, 557 series were sent to 420 



