S. Mis. 53. 43 



nearly 60,000 volumes, witli about $G3,000 dollars. But this is not 

 all : these volumes were not taken at random ; they were bought from 

 a list previously prepared, without regard to cost. The collection may, 

 for practical utihty and adaptation to its purposes, for just distribution 

 among all the departments of learning, for choice of editions, and 

 material pcrfeclion of copy and binding, challenge comparison with 

 any of its size in the world. 



During the year, I have prepared a work containing an exposition of 

 the system for constructing catalogues of libraries, and a general cata- 

 logue, b}' means of separate stereotj^pe titles, with rules for the guidance 

 of librarians, and examples illustrating the rules. This work, ahhough 

 not large, cost me considerable time and labor. 



It was stereotyped in our own office, by the new process, which we 

 have done so much to perfect and adapt to our own peculiar purposes. 

 The typographical appearance of the book is very satisfactory, although 

 the work was executed by unskilful hands, and under many unfavora- 

 ble circumstances. In our operations of stereotyping we have experi- 

 enced many delays and difficulties, from the fact that there was no 

 stereotype office or type foundry at hand, and no persons accustomed 

 to the processes of stereotyping, or the manufacture of the delicate 

 apparatus required. We have latel}^ however, secured the services 

 of an accomplished mechanic, who has already made great improve- 

 ments in our processes and apparatus, and has acquired much skill in 

 the new art. 



A series of bibliographical works has been projected and commenced 

 by the Institution, intended gradually to form a library of valuable aids 

 to research in particular departments of knowledge. The facilities 

 afi()rded for the prosecution of this plan by the stereotyping of the 

 titles separately, so that each part may first be printed by itself, 

 and afterwards, without loss of the previous labor and cost of printing, 

 be continued to form the complete work, would alone justify the labor 

 and expense of establishing an office for stereotyping. The work al- 

 ready executed, or in progress, will furnish a ready test of the practi- 

 cabilit}^ and efficiency of the mode of stereotyping which we have 

 emj)loycd. 



Other works of a similar character are now in preparation ; among 

 them the bibliography of education, which we hope may be finished 

 during the year 185-3. The record of periodical publications is now 

 nearly finished. The catalogue of bibliographical works in the library 

 will shortly be put to press. These works may be prepared and 

 printed without interfering with the progress of other work upon the 

 catalogue of our own or of other libraries. 



Our stereotype office is now in operation, and we can execute work 

 with a good degree of rapidity. The plan is now ofii'red to the public. 

 It has already been fully stated that the expense of publishing the first 

 large catalogue will be greater than of those that follow, although this 

 expense will subsequently be repaid to the first library in the diminution 

 of the expense of reprinting its catalogue. The commission upon the 

 catalogue system recommended to the Board of ilegents to take meas- 

 ures to procure the printing of the catalogue of the library of Congress. 

 The reasons for this recommendation were, that this library would 



