14 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



obtain similar publications from institutions of learniu|:j in all jjarts of 

 the world. 



In return for its own publications the Institution has received the 

 books which form its library. 



This library, consisting of more than a quarter of a million volumes 

 and parts of volumes, has for over twenty years been deposited at the 

 Capitol as a portion of the Congressional Librar^^, and is constantly 

 being' increased. In the last fiscal year nineteen thousand titles were 

 thus added to the national collection of books. 



Chiefly through its exchange system, the Smithsonian had, in 18G5, 

 accumulated about forty thousand volumes, lh,rgely j)ublications of 

 learned societies, containing the record of the actual progress of the 

 world in all that pertains to the mental and physical development of the 

 human family, and affording the means of tracing the history of at least 

 every branch of positive science since the days of revival of letters un- 

 til the present time. 



These books, in many Instances presents from old European libraries, 

 and not to be obtained by purchase, formed even then one of the best 

 collections of the kind in the world. 



The danger incurred from the tire of that year, and the fact that the 

 greater portion of these volumes, being unbound and crowded into in- 

 sufficient space, could not be readily consulted, while the expense to be 

 incurred for their binding, enhirged room, and other purposes connected 

 with their use threatened to grow beyond the means of the Institution, 

 appear to have been the moving causes which determined the Eegents 

 to accept an arrangement by which Congress was to place the Smith- 

 sonian Library with its own in the Capitol, subject to the right of the 

 Regents to withdraw the books on paying the charges of binding, etc. 

 Owing to the same causes (which have affected the Library of Congress 

 itself) these principal conditions, except as regards their custody in a 

 fire-proof building, have never been fulfilled. 



The books are still deposited chiefly in the Capitol, but though they 

 have now increased from 40,000 to fully 250,000 volumes and parts of 

 volumes, and form one of the most valuable collection of the kind in 

 existence, they not only remain unbound, but in a far more crowded 

 and inaccessible condition than they were before the transfer. It is 

 hardly necessary to add that these facts are deplored by no one more 

 than by the present efficient Librarian of Congress. 



The j)urchasing power of the publications of the institution, when 

 offered in excha-nge, is far greater than that of money, and its benefit is 

 exerted chiefly in behalf of the National Library, and also to a consid- 

 erable extent in behalf of the National Museum. 



The amount expended during the past forty years from the private 

 fund of the institution in the publication of books for gratuitous dis- 

 tribution has been $350,000, n- sum nearly hg-lf as great as the origioo/l 

 Smithsou bequest, 



