AORICULTURAL APPROPRIATIOX BlfJ^ \Ki. 341 



lUMMkui tiiis yt'iir, uiui for tlu> iiirrruscti lii'iiiundH iiiiulc ii|><mi iI>- 

 lihrary due U) tlir jjrowtli in thr \vt»rk of thr (li>[>iirtiiirnt. 



For tlie reasons thai have he<'H stated a much larjjer |>iin-hn«e 

 fund for th(> Hhrarv is urj^cntly ner(h>d if fhi* «h'piirtnient is r * 'i/.e 

 in (he most eirM'imt manner the mom-y Mppropriale*! for lu -,^'u- 

 tions and he in a position to coopjTate e(u»ctively with tlie Stnto 

 institutions. Nvhi<h naturally h)ok to the Department of Apneulture 

 as h«'a(h|uartei-s hu- information on ajjrieidture and the reahrd artM 

 and seiences. 



FOR I't KI'IIASE OP HOOKS A\l> I'KKIODICAI.M. 



The So.OOO inerease in the estimates us approved by the Budget 

 is SIO, ()()() h'ss tlum the estimates presented ])V the department. On 

 aerount of the <;reat need for a(hhtiomd fumls it is ur;^entlv reeoni- 

 mondetl, with the approval of the ofliee of the Seereturv of Aj^rirul- 

 ture, that the foHowinf; provision he inserted in the library appro- 

 priation: 



I'rorulfd, That hereafter additional funds from any appropriation of the <iij>;if uin-nt 

 for general expenses, may with the ap|)r()val of the Seiretary of ARriculture, \>e tran.H- 

 ferred to the appropriation for the Reueral uxpcnsef of the library for tlip purcham? of 

 hookf and p«}ri<Mli(aIs. 



Such a provision wt)uUl supplement the Hhrarv aporopriation and 

 make it possible to meet the special, unforeseen and extraordinarj' 

 needs of tlie bureaus for books anil periodicals. In other words, 

 when a new line of work is undertaken by the department the litera- 

 ture on which, as represented in the library is inade(juate, it would 

 be possible for the bureau to transfer to the library some of its funds 

 for the purchase of additional books and periodicals needed in the 

 work. For example, it would be possible to transfer funds for the 

 purchase of extra copies of such reference books jis atbises and 

 dictionaries and the Ollicial Railway Guitle, neetled for office use 

 which do not however add to the permanent resources of the library. 



This provision would be of «;reat service to the ilepartment aind is 

 earnestly recommended in aiUlition to the S'"),(IOO increase contained 

 in the estimates. The bureaus have often expressed dissatisfaction 

 over the fact that they can not buy books and periodicals from their 

 appropriations, especially when they have greatly needed duplicate 

 copies of reference books which the library with its limited appro- 

 priation was unable to buy for them. They have stated that tney 

 would be glad to use their funds for the purpose, but they have 

 been unable to do so because of the law previt)uslv referred to which 

 makes it illegal to purchase books and periodicals from any appro- 

 priation not specifically mentioning books and perio<licals. The 

 proviso recommendetl for inclusion in the library approj)rifttion would 

 make it possible to meet the needs of the bureaus and yet would 

 not destroy the present unity of the library organization of the 

 department. 



BUREAU BRANCH I.IBKARIKS. 



Mr. ANDEitsox. Are libraries maintained by any bureaus of tlie 

 department ( 



Miss Baknkit. The books are purchased by and recorded m llu' 

 main library, but the dillerent bureaus maintain what wo call brunch 

 libraries. They pay for their assistants. 



