1893. | NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 3 
American Library Association, the Committee on the Biblio- 
graphy of Geology appointed at the International Congress of 
Geologists, and the Committee on Indexing Chemical Litera- 
ture, of the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science. The work of the American Library Association is 
familiar to every one; through the journal it reaches all libra- 
rians and bibliographers in sympathy with its enterprises. Its 
scope is, however, almost entirely literary, and science finds 
little place in its admirable plans. 
The Secretary of the Committee on the Bibliography of Geo- 
logy appointed at the International Congress of Geologists, 
held September 1, 1891, at Washington, has issued a circular 
dated November 20, 1891, which sets forth its plans for work. 
These comprise the preparation of (1) a list of geologic bibliog- 
raphies already in existence, (2) new bibliographies of special 
topies, and (3) the periodic registration of the bibliography of 
geology. Their work has been so recently begun that no great 
results can as yet be expected. 
The work of the Committee on Indexing Chemical Litera- 
ture, of the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, now in the eleventh year of its existence, is familiar to 
most persons present. This committee has endeavored to direct 
attention to the importance of compiling bibliographies, cata- 
logues and indexes to the voluminous literature of chemistry. 
While little systematic work has been undertaken, duplication of 
labor has been prevented and independent efforts have accom- 
plished much. Thus a collection of special bibliographies has 
been gradually forming, which now number more than fifty; the 
list was printed in the tenth annual report of the Committee, 
published in the proceedings of the A. A. A.S., for 1892, as well 
as in the Chemical News (London). While the Committee feels 
that their labors have not been vain, the proportion of the com- 
pleted bibliographies to the number of authors publishing 
chemical papers is still unhappily small, and the average of five 
bibliographies per annum is rather lower than expected. The 
committee expresses the hope that the number will grow much 
faster in the future. 
In England the British Association for the Advancement of 
Science has done something towards fostering the object under 
consideration by appointing Committees on Indexing Solutions 
and other topics, but their work progresses slowly. 
The Chemical Societies of Berlin, Paris and London give to 
their members and subscribers laboriously prepared abstracts of 
papers published in countries other than their own. For per- 
sons whose linguistic attainments are limited to their mother 
