REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 125 



This twofold task — that of preparing both a revised list of essential 

 publications still lacking in the main collections and a list of duplicate 

 holdings of single items and serial runs that may be exchanged for 

 these publications — could not have been undertaken without the aid 

 of a number of capable employees assigned to the library by the 

 W. P. A. 



Nor without like assistance could another significant task have been 

 achieved. That was the binding of 260 volumes for three or four of 

 the Smithsonian collections. This work was done at the National 

 Zoological Park, where a temporary bindery was maintained for the 

 purpose. The result of this undertaking was most welcome — all the 

 more so because of the serious arrearage into which the regular binding 

 in several of the libraries has fallen. 



BINDING 



In fact, the library funds available for the year limited the binding 

 to the following : for the National Museum, 400 volumes ; the Bureau 

 of American Ethnology, 2; the Astrophysical Observatory, 52; the 

 National Collection of Fine Arts, 71; the Freer Gallery of Art, 21. 

 The total — 546 volumes — was, however, only a fraction of the number 

 waiting to be bound. 



NEEDS 



A substantial increase in the amiual binding allotment should, 

 therefore, be provided, that the collections may be safeguarded from 

 injury and loss. This is the most crying need of the library. Another 

 need, only a little less urgent, is that of two or three more trained 

 catalogers, Avith one or two expert typists to assist them. If these 

 additions to the staff could be arranged for, the revision of the main 

 catalogs and shelf lists and the cataloging of the sectional libraries 

 could be rapidly advanced. As the catalog division now stands, it is 

 far too small to undertake much more than its current work. 



Respectfully submitted. 



William L. Corbin, Uhrarian. 



Dr. C. G. Abbot, 



Secretary, Smithsonian Institution. 



