194 
LIBRAKY 
The rapidly growing library of the Garden comprises at present 
about 23,000 volumes and about 21,000 pamphlets. This is not 
a circulating library, but is open free for consultation to all per- 
sons daily (except Sundays and holidays) from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. 
(Saturdays, 9 to 12). More than 1,000 periodicals and_ serial 
publications devoted to botany and closely related subjects are 
normally received. These include the transactions of scientific 
societies from all quarters of the globe; the bulletins, monographs, 
reports, and other publications of various departments of the 
United States Government, as well as those of foreign govern- 
ments, and of all state agricultural experiment stations and agri- 
cultural colleges; the publications of research laboratories, uni- 
versities, botanic gardens, and other scientific institutions of the 
world, as well as the files of independent journals devoted to the 
various phases of plant life. The library is specially rich in pub- 
lications of foreign countries, and has a growing collection of in- 
cunabula and other pre-Linnaean works. 
The Library of the American Fern Socicty, deposited at the 
Garden by an agreement executed on April 21, 1930, is also open 
free daily to the general public for reference, under the same regu- 
lations as govern the main library. 
Bibliographical assistance is rendered to readers by members of 
the Library staff. 
