128 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



300 complete sets were suVjscribed for, and the Institution was informed in 

 August, 1900, that the quota for the United States would be 45. A circular 

 was immediately sent to the various colleges and libraries in this country, 

 and in spite of the fact that it was the summer season, sul)Scription to 45 

 sets was received by the middle of September, which number has since 

 been increased to the equivalent of 66 sets, demonstrating the great 

 interest had in this countrj"^ in the undertaking. The preparation of a list 

 of periodicals to be indexed has been taken in hand and indexing actually 

 begun, two assi; tants being temporarily assigned for this purpose. 



The accessions to the National Museum Library numbered a total of 

 12,267 books, pamphlets, and periodicals, of which 4,942 were a portion of 

 the Smithsonian deposit; 25,141 books were borrowed. The efficiency of 

 the Library has been materially added to by the institution by the Library 

 of Congress of means of transferring })ooks, etc., twice each day, thus 

 enabling the Institution to receive and return books at a very short notice. 

 The number of periodicals entered was 8,986, and 4,811 cards were added 

 to the authors' catalogue of the Museum Library, which now contains 27 

 sections. Its operations will V)e more fully described in the report to the 

 Assistant Secretary. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Cykit.s Abler, Librarinn. 



Mr. S. P. Langley, 



Secretary, Smitlisonian Institution. 



