REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



273 



smaller one in which the books are much handled. In addition, each 

 person is required to sign a call-card for the books received and to de- 

 mand the same when they are returned. 



The number of names now included in the list of those entitled to 

 draw books is sixty-seven. 



The number of books issued and returned during the several months 

 is as follows : 



Months. 



January . . . 

 February . . 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September . 



October 



November . 

 December.. 



Total 



2, 535 



2,184 



During the period of active work in winter and until May, the num- 

 ber of books drawn exceeds that of those returned, while the reverse is 

 usually the case upon the approach of summer. The abnormal condi- 

 tion in November and December is due to the fact that certain rearrange- 

 ments in the Museum made it necessary that the whole of one sectional 

 library should be returned. 



For the benefit of the clerks, messengers, and other employes who 

 are debarred by the regulations from withdrawing books regularly from 

 the library, it has been deemed advisable to set apart a certain num- 

 ber of works of general interest. A list was prepared, including the 

 principal books of travel, manuals of the natural sciences, and the like, 

 contained in the library, and distributed to the employes, with a notice 

 that the works could be withdrawn. This arrangement has met with 

 much favor, the only regret being that there are not more books on the 

 list. « 



Administrative work. 



Registers. — The regular registers have been constantly in use during 

 the year. The record-book shows an addition of 677 entries. These are 

 divided among; the months as follows : 



January 128 



February 102 



March •. 71 



April 54 



May 62 



June 57 



S. Mis. 69 18 



July..., 46 



August 



September 47 



October 40 



November 58 



December ..,..., 12 



