SECRETARY'S REPORT 213 



During the year the library staff assisted in the Smithsonian exhibi- 

 tion program by conducting extensive research to provide background 

 information and appropriate illustrations for proposed exhibits. 



Careful consideration was given to the efficient and economic ar- 

 rangement of space and equipment in the library's allotted area in 

 the east and west ranges in the Natural History Building, Floor plans 

 were made for the library of the National Collection of Fine Arts and 

 the National Portrait Gallery in the Patent Office Building. 



A Xerox 914 book copier was acquired for the purpose of extending 

 libraiy services. This quick photocopying equipment provides the 

 research staff with library materials that are needed for long-tei*m 

 use, particularly those that are out of print and/or difficult to locate. 



STAFF CHANGES AND ACTIVITIES 



Mrs. Etta C. Bachrach, formerly with the National Library of 

 Medicine, joined the catalog section staff in April. Miss Janice 

 Brown, chief of the reference and circulation section, retired on 

 May 18. 



During the year, staff members attended the International Confer- 

 ence on Cataloguing Principles sponsored by UNESCO in Paris, 

 France, the American Library Association's annual conference, the 

 American Library Association's Library Buildings and Equipment 

 Institutes, the Special Libraries Association's conference, and U.S. 

 Book Exchange meetings. Staff members also visited the Bibliotheque 

 National in Paris and the Library for the National Portrait Gallery 

 in London. 



BRANCH LIBRARIES 



The branch libraiy for the Museum of History and Technology 

 answered 13,327 reference questions, circulated 12,847 books and 

 journals, and provided assistance to 5,591 visitors to the library. The 

 trade catalog collection was enriched by the addition of 816 commer- 

 cial catalogs, many of which are rare and out of print. A concentrated 

 effort is being made to organize this collection prior to its move into 

 the new Museum of History and Technology building. A twice- 

 monthly accessions list was continued with gratifying results. 



The importance of the Bureau of American Ethnology branch li- 

 brary's valuable collection of materials on the North American Indians 

 was recognized by steps taken during the year toward making this 

 better available to Smithsonian and visiting scientists. The physical 

 appearance and lighting arrangements were improved, and Mrs. Carol 

 F. Jopling, formerly with the U.S. Information Agency, was ap- 

 pointed as librarian. 



Procedures were put into effect for the operation of the branch 

 library of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, 



