206 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1961 



The catalog section cataloged 7,983 volumes, recataloged Y50 vol- 

 umes, transferred 859 items, and checked in 31,443 periodicals. New 

 procedures were adopted for the recording of serials in the serial 

 record (formerly the periodical record). Because of more efficient 

 methods of handling and processing, the recording of serials is on a 

 current basis. The complete revamping of the serial record will 

 result in still less time being required for checking of bibliographic 

 data and for the recording of serials. This long-range project, which 

 has had an excellent beginning, is one of the major steps in putting 

 the library on an effective operating basis. 



In cooperation with the Library of Congress the staff checked the 

 library's serial holdings, which will be recorded in the third edition 

 of the Union List of Serials. This bibliographic tool of national 

 importance is used constantly by our staff. 



The skilled hand binders repaired and restored 3,431 volumes of 

 materials that required expert care and treatment, while 6,200 volumes 

 of books and journals were prepared for binding or rebinding by a 

 commercial binder. The continued program of weeding and discard- 

 ing unused or duplicate materials from the collections resulted in 

 10,658 items being withdrawn. 



The reference section answered a total of 32,094 reference and 

 bibliographical requests, handled 2,840 pieces of correspondence that 

 asked for specific types of information, and circulated 28,822 items. 

 No record is kept of the circulation of books and journals assigned to 

 the divisional libraries where they circulate freely within the division. 

 Through interlibrary loans, 5,235 items were borrowed from other 

 libraries, chiefly the Library of Congress; in addition, 935 pieces were 

 lent. The facilities of the reading rooms in the main and branch 

 libraries were used by 14,520 visitors, including many scholars and 

 scientists. Floor plans were drawn by members of the staff for the 

 library's expanded space which will ease the severely crowded stack 

 and work areas. 



The book collection that serves the staff of the Museum of History 

 and Technology continued on a very active basis. Progress was seen 

 in the gi'owth and development of the collections and in the service 

 provided. The staff answered 11,765 reference questions, replied to 

 894 letters, lent 12,599 publications, and assisted 3,982 persons coming 

 to the library seeking specific types of information. One of the most 

 significant achievements was the organization of 2,297 trade catalogs 

 according to a special cataloging and classification scheme. With the 

 addition of two temporary librarj^ assistants, good progress was made 

 toward shaping the collection into a live, workable library. The 

 shifting of the old card catalog into a new one and the cataloging 

 of the collection of books on the history of medicme were completed. 

 The preparation and distribution of a bimonthly accession list has 



