1923] THAL, THE MUSEUM'S REFERENCE LIBRARY 177 



distance beyond the solid ivory, by the chalky appearance of the soil. 

 An examination of the exposed part proved the fossil a hopeless 

 case but the sound portions of the tusks were encased in plaster of 

 Paris jackets so that these parts might be removed, later infiltrated 

 and saved for the Girls' School. A molar shown in figure 97 was en- 

 cased in flour paste and carefully carried back to Norman, where it 

 was later infiltrated and placed in the Museum of the University of 

 Oklahoma. The crown of this molar had been worn quite to the gums 

 with only two small areas projecting above. 



THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE 

 MUSEUM'S REFERENCE LIBRARY 



By Carl Thal" 



When in June, 1883, the Wisconsin Natural History Society, from 

 whose collections the present Public Museum originated, divided their 

 library between the old Engelmann School and the newly created 

 Public Museum Board, there remained for the Museum two hundred 

 and seventy volumes of scientific literature. These constituted the 

 beginning of the present extensive Reference Library of the Museum. 



At that time a mutual exchange of publications with American 

 and foreign scientific societies and museums was not yet inaugurated, 

 which accounts for the exceedingly small number of books assigned 

 to the Public Museum Board, when the division of the Natural His- 

 tory Society's library was made. 



As soon as the Public Museum Board had taken charge of the 

 Natural History Society collections in 1883, steps were taken to en- 

 large the Museum's Reference Library by starting an exchange of 

 publications with scientific societies and museums and by the direct 

 purchase of such works as were thought indispensable in carrying out 

 the scientific work of the Museum. Publications are now exchanged 

 with over five hundred American and foreign societies and institu- 

 tions. At present the Museum's Reference Library consists of 9,401 

 bound volumes and 19,710 unbound volumes and pamphlets. 



The Museum's Reference Library has made such rapid growth, 

 that fourteen double steel book stacks, each fifteen feet long, are re- 

 quired to accommodate the books contained in the library. A card 

 catalogue has also been inaugurated and in the course of years, so en- 

 larged that four sixty tray card cabinets are required for the accom- 

 modation of the library cards. 



^^Librarian, Milwaukee Public Museum. 



