STUDIES ON MUSKUMS AND KINDRED INSTITUTIONS. 457 



logue/' The printino- is finely executed. Electrotyping is cheaper 

 than printing-.'' A page co.sts a little over a dollar, or with a large 

 edition it is reduced to about 55 cents. The titles are arranged .sys- 

 tematically in 9 divisions and 67 subdivisions; within these, however, 

 they are also systematically, not alphabetically, arranged. The alpha- 

 betical index at the end, with 2,000 entries, contains, beside authors, 

 also certain titles. The catalogue is sold in the li))rary for a nomi- 

 nal price of 2<) cents; by mail, 30 cents. There are also printed six 

 instructive reports, distinguished among similar publications for their 

 clearness and completeness; a list of current periodicals, 1897, 20 

 pages, linotyped; the ))y-laws of the library, 1898, 11 pages, and a few 

 circulars. In 1900 the library received 2,017 periodicals, at an expend- 

 iture for subscriptions of J^l,261.27 (396 were presented).'" In accord- 

 ance with its progrannue it offers an unusually rich collection of 

 scientific journals and publications of learned societies. The entr}^ 

 book for these is very practically arranged. 



The library is opened on week days from 9 a. m. till 1<» p. m., and 

 is closed on Sundays. The books in the reading room may ])e con- 

 sulted without formality ])y anyone, but after use are to be left on 

 the tables. The current periodicals may be consulted in the periodical 

 department or obtained for use in the reading room, like the books, by 

 putting in a card for them. These are returned, after use, to the 

 desk. The arrangement, according to the Dewey system, is such a 

 practical one that on the average only a minute and thirty-eight seconds 

 are required to place any book in the hands of the person asking for 

 it. Books are lent out only in extraordinary cases, and then for but a 

 short time, and only such books as are seldom called for. in case of 

 special researches certain persons personall\' known to the director are 

 allowed to take the books directly from the stacks. For that purpose 

 permanent passes are issued. In 1900, 12 persons had such passes, and 

 32 used them 287 times. Besides, there w^ere issued 730 single permis- 

 sions to take books directly from the shelves. These ])ooks must be 

 left lying upon the tables. Everything is recorded exactly, so that 

 not onh^ is the number of books used known, but also to what particular 

 divisions the}^ belong. In 1900 over 95,000 volumes and periodicals 

 were used. Very valuable and rare books may be consulted only in 

 the presence of an attendant. The tracing of plans, etc., is allowed 

 onl}^ on celluloid tablets, which can be obtained in the library. 



As is everj'where evident, it is the one endeavor of the administra- 

 tion to make the library as useful as possible. A greater lil)erality than 

 is here practiced can not be imagined, and it gives great satisfaction to 



"See Milkau, Centralkataloge und Titildrucke, 1898, p. 27. 

 ''Sixth Report, 1900, ]). 1(5, 1901. 



cin 1899 tlicri" were 1,80(5, and of these 41(5 were jreiieral, 499 related to social 

 sciences, .^01 to natural sciences, and 480 to applied sciences. 



