PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS 331 
logy and History of the State, supported by the state in the 
Archeological and Historical Society are constantly increasing in 
value and justifying the expenditure of state funds which are 
appropriated for the purpose. In the State Board of Health much 
work of a scientific character is being accomplished and while 
bearing directly upon the public health at the same time contributes 
import fant additions to general science. Still other agencies 
accomplish excellent results. 
The scientific workers of the state are, I presume, all seriously 
hampered for the want of extensive library facilities and it seems 
that it would be desirable, if possible, to inaugurate some system 
of co-operation between the different scientific workers of the state 
and the libraries, especially the State Library, in order to better 
this condition. The librarians fortunately co-operate in publishing 
lists of periodicals which are available in each library so that for 
this particular feature we can hardly ask an improvement. The 
plan, however, might be extended to cover exchange and further 
purchase of scientific books of an expensive character or publica- 
tions of societies which are from their nature available in but few 
libraries and which from the fact that they are seldom in demand 
could readily be used at different institutions or by Jifferent 
workers with very little danger or inconvenience. The State 
Library has a few important serial publications, but I understand 
that its policy with reference to scientific publications has been to 
leave them for the State University, a policy which I hope may be 
modified, especially with reference to certain sets of journals which 
are practically inaccessible to all scientific workers of Ohio. The 
librarian has very cordially received a suggestion regarding some 
co-operation, and I feel assured that any resolution passed by th 
Academy would receive his cordial attention. 
The plan which strikes me as possible would be for the 
Society to appoint a committee of three, representing different in- 
stitutions, which might take the matter in hand, determining how 
far it would be possible to publish lists of serial journals available 
in the libraries of different institutions, including the State 
Library; to receive from members of the Academy suggestions as 
to publications that are especially desirable in their lines of work 
and to present lists of such as would be recommended to the State 
Library with the request that so far as possible such sets should be 
completed or provided for in the State Library. The arrange- 
ments by which books may be obtained from the State Library 
are already so admirable that probably no change would be neces- 
sary to make such journals accessible to all established scientific 
workers of the state. 
Another matter which seems to me to be of particular import- 
ance and which may properly claim the efforts of the Society is 
that of greater support for the investigations upon the natural 
