50 REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 



(iiuiiiy of which contained several separate publications), rep- 

 resenting an increase over the previous year of seven thousand 

 four hundred and ninety -seven (7,497). The relative amount 

 of exchanges with various countries is graphically shown in 

 the accompanying chart. 



A total of sixty-two thousand three hundred and fourteen 

 (62,314), or more than half the number of parcels delivered 

 to the International Exchanges, were either received from the 

 departments and bureaus of the United States Government 

 for transmission abroad, or were received for them from 

 abroad, and constituted fully 75 per cent of the total weight 

 of all transmissions for the year. This branch of the service 

 is then of value to the Library of Congress and the depart- 

 mental and sectional lil)raries of every branch of the Gov- 

 ernment. 



In his last report the Secretary presented an account of his 

 visit to London and Berlin during the summer of 190U for 

 the purpose of impressing upon the British and German 

 Governments the desire of the Institution that they should 

 each establish an international exchange bureau, or at least 

 arrange for the transmission and distribution of exchanges so 

 far as this country is concerned. This work has been carried 

 on between the United States and each of these countries 

 from the beginning at the expense of the Institution, which 

 has paid all expenses, even to the employing of a salaried 

 agent in both countries. As yet no definite action has been 

 taken by either Government. 



Although subsequently to the conclusion of the Brussels 

 treaty in 1886, France had established an international ex- 

 change bureau, it had not provided sufficient means to conduct 

 it in a manner to insure prompt distribution of parcels. The 

 Secretary, accompanied by Mr. Henry Vignaud, of the United 

 States embass}^, had an interview with Monsieur Liard, chief 

 of the libraries of France, who promised to recommend to the 

 French Chambers an increase in the appropriation for inter- 

 national exchanges. The Secretary is pleased to note that a 

 substantial improvement has recently been made in the time 

 required for the distribution of exchanges in France, and has 

 every reason to hope that the interests of the exchange serv- 

 ice at large are about to benefit by imj^rovements introduced 

 at his request, on the eflicient recommendation of M. Liard, 

 in the French system. 



