Annual Reports 



97 



At the present time the catalog in archeology has been brought up to 

 date; that in zoology is complete except for the insects: and the geo- 

 logical catalog is well under way. 



Library 



Our library now receives in exchange for the Proceedings 107 different 

 serial publications, representing 67 institutions. The necessity for having 

 the completed volumes bound is a constantly increasing one, as unbound 

 pamphlets and brochures are easily misplaced and are irreparably damaged 

 by frequent handling. It is also important that we should obtain a number 

 of standard textbooks for use in studying and labeling the collections. 

 At the present time our work is seriously hampered by this lack, and in 

 certain directions would be impossible if books were not kindly loaned 

 from private libraries. A gift of money for binding or for the purchase 

 of textbooks would be one of the most practical ways of helping the 

 museum. 



In addition to the periodicals received irf exchange the Association sub- 

 scribes to the American Naturalist and to Psyche; it receives as gifts 

 from Dr. Arthur Hollick, Science, the Monthly Bulletin of the Xew York 

 State Department of Health, and the Staten Islander; from Mr. William 

 T. Davis the Entomological News ; from Mr. Charles L. Pollard the 

 Publishers' Weekly, the Journal of the New York Entomological Society, 

 and the Columbia Alumni News; and from Mr. Ira K. Morris The 

 Broadside. 



General Remarks 



From an inspection of the accession record for the past year it may be 

 predicted that the museum is no longer in danger of suffering from a 

 lack of donations. On the other hand, we have reached a point where 

 careful discrimination is necessary in accepting material unsuitable either 

 for study or exhibition, as our limited space can be easily filled by objects, 

 which though not necessarily valueless are not adapted to our local needs 

 and scope. Theoretically the accessions committee acts as a buffer between 

 the museum and material offered to it ; but practically, nearly all of the 

 dubious accessions come to us under circumstances which render it unwise 

 or" impossible to decline them. There is much to be said, therefore, in 

 favor of the general practice among other museums, whereby gifts of 

 every description are received, but on the express understanding that the 

 executive in charge is free to dispose of them as he deems fitting. There 

 is room for a considerable increase in our activities with regard to ex- 

 changes, and this is really one of the most effective means of increasing 

 the collections, since all the material received undergoes a selective process 

 at the hands of a trained official. It has been my constant endeavor, wiien 

 meeting my colleagues in other institutions, to arrange an exchange of 

 specimens whenever such action might prove mutually advantageous. It 



