40 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



latter part of April, 1887, and has remained in active use since then 

 It now contains the cnrrent numbers of two hundred and sixty live se- 

 rials, embracing most of the chief scientitic and technical publications, 

 and including also a few of the more important literary periodicals. It 

 is much used by the employes of the Smithsonian Institution and the 

 Museum; and to a less degree by other persons in Washington who 

 wish to consult the scientific periodicals. Such a scientific reading- 

 room has long been needed at the Institution, and the one now in opera- 

 tion ai)pears to fill the want satisfactorily. 



The i)olicy that has been pursued in regard to the library has been, 

 in general, to obtain as large and as valuable a return as possible for 

 the works published by the Institution, and to make the best possible 

 use of these returns when they are received. With this end in view, 

 the librarian has been instructed to watch for all opportunities of ob- 

 taining new publications by exchange and to bring to my knowledge 

 every occasion of this kind. The results of this increased activity in 

 seeking new exchanges are to be seen in the fact that for the fiscal year 

 1887-'88 the total number of accessions amounted to 18,948, an increase 

 of 2,401 over the total number for the preceding fiscal year (1886-'87), 

 which was 16,547. 



As has been previously stated, 3,045 of these accessions have been 

 transferred to the Museum library, and, in addition to these, G75 med- 

 ical dissertations have been loaned to the library of the Surgeon-Gen- 

 eral's Office, U. S. Army. The remainder, 15,228 in number, have been 

 transferred to the Library of Congress. It is impossible, as it seems to 

 me, not to consider this as an ample return for whatever expense the 

 Library of Congress is put to in paying for the recording of these acces- 

 sions. 



The following is a statement of the books, maps, andcliarts received 

 by the Smithsonian Institution from July 1, 1887, to June 30, 1888 : 



Volumes : 



Octavo or smaller 1,010 



Quarto or larger 575 



1,585 



Parts of volnmes : 



Octavo or smaller C, 188 



Quarto or larger C>, 420 



12, GOB 



Pamplilets: 



Octavo or smaller 3, G07 



Quarto or larger (j81 



4,288 



Maps 4(57 



Total 18,1)48 



Were I to attempt to mention the titles of the publications received, 

 it would expand this report beyond all reasonable dimensions. 



