Report on the Library 
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the activ- 
ities of the Smithsonian library for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1959: 
Of the 52,669 publications received in the library, 2,706 were books 
and periodicals that could not be obtained in exchange. A special 
effort was made to acquire some of the much-needed reference ma- 
terials that could not be obtained in the past. Publications were ac- 
quired to fill in special subject areas where adequate source materials 
were missing. Exchange relations with learned societies and sci- 
entific establishments both in this country and abroad continued to 
provide their serials and monographs which comprise the backbone 
of the library’s collection. New exchanges arranged this year totaled 
159, to be added to the vast number already established. Special re- 
quests for 2,359 publications were made to issuing societies and or- 
ganizations for back issues of publications needed for completing sets 
in our collections. Books and periodicals were acquired for the Canal 
Zone Biological Area and also for the Astrophysical Observatory in 
Cambridge, Mass. 
Recommendations for the acquisition of materials are of great 
importance in enriching the collections. Many significant gifts also 
come to the library from interested individuals including members 
and friends of the Smithsonian staff. Gifts of special note included 
“Voices from the Flowery Kingdom,” from Mrs. Lucille Nott; 327 
issues of philatelic journals from Alexander Halperson; 50 issues of 
the Connoisseur, from Fred J. P. Chitty ; 8 volumes on Indian dancing 
by Leila Row Dayal; “Grundzuge der zoologischen Mikropalion- 
tologie,” Band 1, by Vladmir Pokorny. 
Controlling the vast intake of publications each year requires the 
efforts of the entire staff in evaluating the materials for retention and 
in making them readily available for use. Lack of adequate space 
necessitates the daily sorting and shipping of all extraneous and dupli- 
cate publications to other agencies. 
Beginning July 1, 1958, all publications forwarded to the Library 
of Congress were sent by transfer instead of being specifically desig- 
nated for the Smithsonian Deposit, thus eliminating unnecessary 
recordkeeping on the part of both organizations. Publications sent 
to this organization totaled 20,558, many of which were continuations 
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