The Smithsonian Library 299 



folios of old Italian and German masters ; also a collection 

 of works relating to the history of art, very complete in its 

 day. Another collection of engravings was presented to the 

 Institution by Mr. C. B. King, in I86I. 1 From time to time 

 there have been additions to this collection, largely by gift 

 and occasionally by purchase. 



The plan formulated by Secretary Langley, and executed 

 under his direction, for the greater increase of the library of 

 the Institution by exchange than had heretofore obtained, 

 has been described above. This plan was so successful that 

 the library has almost doubled in size within the past five 

 years, the normal increase for a year now amounting to from 

 thirty to thirty-five thousand entries of the record book. 

 In fact, it may be fairly said that the library is now on a 

 more favorable footing, so far as increase is concerned, than 

 it was at the time when the Institution was first organized, 

 and when almost half of its endowment was assigned for 

 library purposes. 



In addition to the library of the Institution proper Secre- 

 tary Langley began, in 1891, the collection of 



" a limited number of books, not forming part of the Smithson- 

 ian deposit in the Library of Congress, obtained by purchase 

 from the Smithsonian fund and retained at the Institution 

 under the name of the ' Secretary's Library.' These books 

 are mostly, but not exclusively, books of scientific reference, 

 certain art serials being included among them." 2 



Various other small collections are now being made for 

 the use of the Astrophysical Observatory, the Zoological 

 Park, for the immediate use of the Institution, denominated 

 " Office Library," and files of popular literary magazines for 

 the employees. 



1 A catalogue of this collection is contained in the " Smithsonian Report," 1861, page 86. 

 2 " Smithsonian Report," 1891, page 12. 



