114 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 3 8 



BINDING 



The allotment for binding was again very inadequate, permitting 

 the libraries to bind only as follows: National Museum, 494 vol- 

 umes; National Collection of Fine Arts, 45; Astrophysical Observa- 

 tory, 36. The total, 575 volumes, was but a fraction of the number 

 that, for the good of the collections, should have been bound. It 

 is earnestly hoped that more funds can soon be made available for 

 binding, that this interest of the Smithsonian libraries — an interest 

 essential to their preservation and usefulness — may be provided for 

 satisfactorily. In 1935 the average charge for binding was about 

 $3.25 a volume, while in 1938 it had risen to approximately $5. This 

 difference of $1.75 has woefully reduced the number of volumes that 

 can be bound with the sums annually allowed for this purpose. 



Fortunately, the Freer Gallery of Art, with funds of its own for 

 binding, was able to have 57 volumes bound. Fortunately, too, the 

 Smithsonian Institution, taking advantage of the services of an 

 expert binder and of two assistants assigned to it under the W. P. A., 

 was able to have 414 volumes bound and 148 volumes and 994 pam- 

 phlets repaired for several of its libraries. 



But there remain thousands of unbound volumes, especially in 

 the National Museum, Bureau of American Ethnology, Astrophys- 

 ical Observatory, and National Collection of Fine Arts. Most of 

 the volumes are made up of serial parts. As many of these are in 

 daily use, they are constantly running the risk of being damaged or 

 destroyed. And it frequently happens that a part, once lost, cannot 

 be replaced, particularly if it belongs to a foreign volume of limited 

 issue. 



NEEDS 



The need of increased funds for binding has already been men- 

 tioned. Other needs are only a little less urgent. They are as fol- 

 lows : Two or more well-trained catalogers to work chiefly in the main 

 library in the Natural History Building; another messenger to assist 

 in the libraries in the Smithsonian Building and the Arts and Indus- 

 tries Building; more shelf room for the library collections in all 

 three of the principal buildings of the Institution. 



Respectfully submitted. 



William L. Corbin, Librarian. 



Dr. C. G. Abbot, 



Secretary, Smithsonian Institution. 



