324 Kansas Academy of Science. 



one book in a combined library would serve the purpose of three 

 in separate collections. The greatest benefit, however, of a consoli- 

 dated library is in the complete cataloguing which would then be 

 possible. This is a task of considerable magnitude, and could 

 hardly be attempted with the present resources of the Academy, 

 The cataloguers in the state library, besides professional training, 

 have now had considerable practical experience and could work 

 with much advantage on the combined collections. 



The whole matter of the consolidation of libraries is doubtless 

 in the province of the legislature, and should be taken up in a 

 broad and generous spirit, and with the purpose to make a great 

 state library, as useful as possible to the people of the state. It is 

 natural that the Academy and the Historical Society would not 

 consent to lose the identity of their libraries in this consolidation. 

 We have considerable pride in our book collection and have in- 

 vested in it quite an amount of the Academy's funds. It is a 

 matter that should be thoroughly discussed and referred to a com- 

 mittee. 



In our collection of scientific books in foreign languages, we sur- 

 pass both the state and historical libraries. While this feature 

 does not appeal to large numbers of those who consult our libra- 

 ries, yet there are occasions when such books are of the highest 

 value, and they are an important adjunct to our state library. In 

 many instances sets of this class of books may be made more com- 

 plete by exchanges of our Transactions, to which reference has 

 been made, and the international book exchange, through the 

 Smithsonian, makes this possible at small expense. 



In presenting the facts set forth in this paper it has been the 

 purpose to call attention of members of the Academy to the possi- 

 bilities of improvement in onr library so as to make it one of our 

 most important agencies in scientific progress. In the consolida- 

 tion suggested above, it seems fitting that a strictly scientific de- 

 partment be created in our state library, and placed under control 

 of the Academy, under similar conditions to that of the Stormont 

 library in its connection with the State Medical Society. This 

 would require another assistant librarian, and all the details could 

 be arranged by mutual conference of the parties interested. The 

 time to take this up is at hand when we are to move into the new 

 Memorial building. 



