80 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



In 1887 you organized a plan for increasing the library by excbauges. Lists of 

 periodicals were secured from the British Museum, several universities, and a great 

 number of leading specialists. These lists were carefully revised and correspond- 

 ence entered upon with each society and journal there represented. During the 

 year this work was completed. Immediately upon its completion a new list of all 

 scientific publicatioi\s issued in France was secured, and, after revision, correspond- 

 ence was entered upon; 1,191 letters asking for publications not on our list, or for 

 numbers to complete the series already in the library, have been written. As a 

 result, 503 new exchanges were acquired by the Institution, while 133 defective 

 series were either completed or added to as far as the publishers were able to supply 

 missing parts. This result is very nearly double that attained last year. 



Since 1887, 5,831 letters have been written for the purpose of increasing the num- 

 ber of periodicals and transactions of learned societies in the library; 1,853 new 

 periodicals have been added to the list of those received, and 1, 042 defective series 

 have been either wholly or partially completed. 



Four thousand -two hundred and thirty-six acknowledgments of publications 

 received were made by the post card and other printed forms, while many gifts were 

 acknowledged by special letter. 



Three sectional libraries are now established in the Institution — the editor's, the 

 astronomical, and one for works on aerodromics. 



In the last report attention was called to the crowded condition of the library 

 offices. Since that time two additional rooms have been assigned, one for a collection 

 of books required for reference, and the other as an office for the librarian. In tliis 

 reference room, besides cyclopedias and dictionaries, are placed the publications of 

 six of the great scientific societies of the world. 



A room has also been set apart for the collections of prints belonging to the Institu- 

 tion. A few of these have been framed and hung upon the walls, the remainder 

 being retained in bound volumes and portfolios. 



The card-catalogue record of periodicals received has oeeu transferred from the 

 largo cards formerly employed to the smaller card, known as the postal size; a new 

 card catalogue of periodicals in the Institution has also been prepared for the read- 

 ing room. 



The library is governed by the following regulations, which with slight additions 

 were drawn up by the present Secretary some years ago : 



CONSTITUTION OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. 



1. By act of Congress of April 5, 1866, the library of the Smithsonian lustitntion 

 is to be kept with the Library of Congress, but with the provision that the Institu- 

 tion shall continue to enjoj' its customary use of it. The following regulations refer 

 only to those books which under the above proviso are retained at the Smithsonian 

 Institution proper, or in its Museum library. 



2. By order of the Secretary, after April 1, 1887, these are placed in the immediate 

 charge of a librarian, whose title shall be "libiarian of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion," and whose duty it shall be to decide what books shall be retained from the 

 Library of Congress in a central library under his charge. The following regulations 

 are intended for the better execution of the aforesaid order : 



SECTIONAL LIBRARIES. 



3. Sectional libraries may be formed by the Assistant Secretary, the Chief Cleik, 

 or assistant in charge, and also by the curators and acting curators, and the editor. 

 Curators and acting curators are permitted, subject to the approval of the Assistant 

 Secretary in charge of the Museum, to form sectional libraries to be kept in their 

 respective offices; but this shall only be done by withdrawing from the general col- 

 lection such books as relate exclusively to the objects under their care. Dictionaries, 

 cyclopedias, journals, or any works other than such as relate exclusively to the 



