16 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



In return for these, and by purchase, it has received the great col- 

 lection of books which forms its library and which is one of the richest 

 in the world in tlie publications of learned societies, and therefore of 

 inestimable value, containing, as it does, the record of actual progress 

 in all that pertains to the mental and physical development of the 

 human family, and attbrding tlie means (»f tracing the history of every 

 branch of positive science since the days of the revival of letters until 

 the present time. This library was, in 1865, deposited at the Capitol, 

 as a portion of the Congressional Library. 



The vSmithsonian Collection, which includes more than three hundred 

 thousand volumes and parts of volumes, (constituting i)erhaps one- 

 fourth of the National Library, is to be installed in a special hall of its 

 own upon the main floor of the new Library Building. The rapidity 

 with which it is increasing is indicated by the fact that in the last two 

 years 67,589 titles were added.' 



The Institution has probably done more toward building up a great 

 library in Washington than would have been i^ossible, had all its income 

 been devoted strictly to library work, as was at one time seriously 

 proposed. 



The books are still deposited chiefly in the Capitol, but though their 

 number has been so largely increased, year by year, now forming one 

 of the most valuable collections of the kind in existence, they not only 

 remain unbound, but in a far more crowded and inaccessible condition 

 than they were before the transfer, a condition of affairs which it is 

 hoped will soon be remedied. 



The i)urchasing power of the publications of the Institution, when 

 ottered in exchange, is far greater than that of money, and its benefit 

 is exerted chiefly in behalf of the National Library, and also to a con- 

 siderable extent in behalf of the National Museum. 



The amount expended during the past forty years from the private 

 fund of the Institution in the publication of books for gratuitous dis- 

 tribution has been fully half as much as tbe original Smithson bequest. 



These publications have had their influence for good in many ways; 

 but, in addition to this, a library much more than e(iual in value to the 

 outlay has, through their buying power, come into the possession of 

 the nation. 



In addition to all this, a large amount of material has been acquired 

 for the Museum by direct expenditure from the private fund of the 

 Smithsonian Institution. The value of the collections thus acquired is 

 estimated to be more than equal to the whole amount of the Smithson 

 bequest. 



The early history of the Museum was much like that of the library. 

 It was not until 1858 that it became the authorized depository of the 



'The working libraries of the National Museum and the Bureau of Ethnology are 

 distinct from the general Smithsonian library and aro separately administered. All 

 of these are placed at the service of advanced students and specialists. 



