REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 151 



groups in Washington, including the Cosmos Club, the Shakespeare 

 Society, the Classical Club, and American University. 



CONCLTJSION 



Despite the fact that the year was one of the most successful 

 since the beginning of the reorganization of the library system in 

 1924, much more could have been accomplished both for the libra- 

 ries in the system and for the scientists and other employees of 

 the Smithsonian if sufficient funds had been at hand for the purchase 

 of all the books and periodicals not obtainable by exchange that 

 were needed in the current work of the Institution; if the binding 

 allotment had been large enough to permit the binding of all the 

 volumes prepared during the year — as it was, 600 had to be held 

 for months as they could not be sent to the bindery until after 

 June 30; and, most of all, if it had been possible to employ more 

 permanent trained assistants. Among the additional personnel 

 needed on the library staif are several cataloguers and general library 

 assistants, a typist, and a messenger. 



Respectfully submitted. 



William L. Corbin, Librarian. 



Dr. Charles G. Abbot, 

 Secretary^ Smithsonian Institution. 



