338 AXNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



$300 higher than the average salary in the main Library. As a con- 

 sequence there have been few changes in the technical staff of the 

 bureau libraries. 



On account of the handicaps under which the Library has labored 

 during the year, the following detailed reports show in nearly every 

 branch of the work a decreased output. The number of books cata- 

 logued was far below the number catalogued in previous years and 

 the number of books bound, though slightly in excess of the number 

 for the previous year, was only half the number bound in the fiscal 

 year 1917. The decrease in circulation reflects the interruption in the 

 scientific work of the Department due to the war. But in spite of the 

 setbacks of tlie past two or three years, as a result of which the sta- 

 tistics of output shoAV decreases instead of increases, there have never- 

 theless been certain intangible gains which help to make good the 

 losses. The reference use of the Library has increased and the value 

 of the Library's collections has been made known to a wider clientele 

 through the service which it rendered to the new Government offices 

 created since the w^ar. Without the use of our collections many of 

 the investigations which it was necessary for these offices to make 

 would have been severely hampered, as the Library had files which 

 were available in no other library in the city and in few libraries of 

 the country. The statistical reports and journals of various kinds 

 were in especial demand, and the collection of these publications as 

 a whole frequently brought forth w^ords of commendation. The 

 Library's unusual resources along scientific lines and its bibliographi- 

 cal equipment have also been complimented. 



But while the Library's collections on the subjects relating to the 

 work of the Department are extensive, they still leave much to be 

 desired. The Department, with its appropriation of $27,875,353 and 

 its scientific force, wdiich is larger than that connected with any other 

 Government institution, occupies a commanding position in the scien- 

 tific world and has a large duty to the country. The Library of the 

 Department should occupy the same commanding position in its 

 special field of work and should, by reason of the completeness of its 

 collections and the scope of its service, be able to perform the duties 

 of this position. The growth of the Library's appropriations in the 

 past has not kept pace with the growth of the Department. Now 

 that normal conditions are approaching it is hoped that the develop- 

 ]nent of the Library may be accelerated and that in addition the time 

 will not be long distant when permanent, suitable, safe, and adequate 

 quarters will be provided for the Library's invaluable collections. 



REFERENCE AND CIRCULATION DIVISIONS. 



Miss Emma B. Hawks, As'^istant Librarian, in general charge. 

 Miss Gertrude E. Uiton, Loan Desk Assistant. 



The statistics of circulation given in Appendix 2 show that the 

 total recorded circulation of the main Library and the bureau, divi- 

 sion, and office libraries for the past year was 68,393 books and 

 pamphlets and approximately 150,000 current periodicals, which was 

 a decrease of 8,000 books as compared with the previous year but a 

 small increase in the number of current periodicals circulated. In 



