44 S. Mis. 53. 



sooner reap the benefits of the plan than any other, and that the first 

 outlay could be better borne. Another reason is, that it is desn^able to 

 have the first catalogue prepared near to the Institution, where the 

 whole work can be more conveniently supervised and rendered 

 accurate. It is much to be hoped, for the success of the plan, that this 

 recommendation may be soon followed. The Institution has borne 

 alone the expense of developing the system, and it can reap no greater 

 benefits than any other library of equal size. The expense of furnish- 

 ing the first stock of titles to be used for all other libraries can ill be 

 borne. If the work be stopped when our own means of continuing it 

 are exhausted, much that has been done will be lost. It will be im- 

 possible to resume operations after an interval of cessation, without 

 gi-eat loss. It should be remarked that it is not necessary to finish the 

 preparation of a catalogue before beginning to print it. The stereo- 

 typing may commence with the cataloguing, and the catalogue may 

 begin witli any part of the library. The catalogue may thus be 

 published in parts, each containing the books on a particular subject. 

 These parts may afterwards be combined to form the complete cata- 

 logue, which may be either alphabetical or classed. 



I close by most earnestly asking for this matter the immediate 

 consideration of the Board of Regents, confident that but a small sum 

 of money, compared with the great result to be gained, is now needed 

 to secure the general adoption of this system, and the fiiU realization 

 of all the benefits which it is calculated to bestow upon the cause ot 

 knowledge. 



Respectfully submitted : 



C. C. JEWETT. 



