20 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 194 5 



and it became apparent that some European learned societies and 

 museums had been able to continue publication throughout the war 

 period. The rare books and manuscripts removed from the Institu- 

 tion early in the war to Washington and Lee University were safely 

 returned during the year. Usually, the need for current scientific 

 books makes it impossible for the library to purchase the older volumes 

 needed for reference, but this year it was fortunate in being able to 

 acquire a considerable number of these valuable old works, some of 

 them dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As 

 usual, the Institution received a large number of gifts of publications 

 from individuals and organizations. The library's most urgent need 

 is relief from the overcrowding of the shelves in all the Institution's 

 buildings. The year's accessions totaled 4,844 items, bringing the 

 library's holdings to 918,400. New exchanges were arranged to the 

 number of 218, and 6,671 "wants" were received. Volumes and pam- 

 phlets cataloged numbered 6,512, and loans totaled 10,833. More than 

 2,500 volumes were sent to the bindery. 

 Eespectf ully submitted. 



A. Wetmore, Secretary. 



