REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 39 



LIBRARY. 



During the past year the work of the Museum Library has increased 

 in volume, although, unfortunately, no relief could be afforded either 

 in the way of additional space or of assistance. A considerable por- 

 tion of the new gallery in the west north, and north west ranges will, 

 when completed, be employed for library purposes, and this makes 

 the greatest possible limit of expansion in the present building. The 

 accessions to the library numbered L2.2»>7 books, pamphlets, and 

 periodicals, of which 4,942 were retained out of the Smithsonian 

 deposit. It is the policy of the Smithsonian Institution in library 

 matters to give its first care to the strengthening of the Smithsonian 

 deposit in the Library of Congress, and many sets heretofore retained 

 in the Museum are now being- gradually turned over to that Library. 

 This policy will in the future require an increase in the appropriation 

 for books for the Museum, as otherwise its interests must suffer. It 

 should l»e said, however, that the service of the Library of Congress 

 is more prompt and efficient than ever before, books being sent to the 

 Museum twice a day. and the Librarian and his assistants have cor- 

 dially cooperated with the Institution and Museum in supplying their 

 needs. 



The Library has had during the year four students in cataloguing 

 and library practice generally, and is glad to afford such facilities as 

 its limited space renders possible. 



Twenty-five thousand one hundred and forty-one books were lent; 

 8,986 periodicals were entered; 262 volumes, 147 parts of periodicals, 

 and 530 pamphlets of the Goode library accessioned, and 4,811 cards 

 added to the authors' catalogue. 



PHOTOGRAPHY. 



The photographic laboratory, under Mr. T. W. Smillie, has produced 

 more than the usual amount of work, which consisted chiefly in pho- 

 tographing important objects in the collections for use in illustrating 

 the publications of the Museum, and the high standard of excellence 

 demanded for this purpose has been fully maintained. The laboratory 

 is also called upon for reproductions of plans and other drawings in 

 connection with the construction and repair work of the Museum, and 

 much other work of a miscellaneous character. An illustrated cata- 

 logue in blue print of the very large series of negatives dating back to 

 the first years of the Museum has been nearly completed. The num- 

 ber of negatives made during the year was 902, of silver prints L,818, 

 of platinum prints 448, of bromide prints 63, and of blue prints li'.lll. 



COOPERATION OK THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT. 



Valuable assistance has continued to be received from various depart- 

 ments and bureaus of the Government. Officers of the Army and 



