PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 



logy and HistoTj' of the State, supported b}^ the state in the 

 Archeoloijieal and Historical Society are constantly increasing in 

 value and justifying the expenditure of state funds which are 

 appropriated for the purpose. In the State Board of Health much 

 work of a scientific character is being accomplished and while 

 bearing directly upon the public health at the same time contributes 

 important additions to general science. Still other agencies 

 accomplish excellent results. 



The scientific workers of the state are, I presume, all serioiusly 

 hampered for the want of extensive library facilities and it seems 

 that it would be desirable, if possible, tO' inaugurate some system 

 of co-operation between the different scientific workers of the state 

 and the libraries, especially the State Library, in order to better 

 this condition. The librarians fortunately co^023erate in publishing 

 lists of periodicals which are available in each library so that for 

 this particular feature we can hardly ask an improvement. The 

 plan, however, might be extended to cover exchange and further 

 purchase of scientific books of an expensive character or publica- 

 tions of societies which are from their nature available in but few 

 libraries and which from the fact that they are seldom in demand 

 could readily be used at different institutions or by different 

 workers with very little danger or inconvenience. The State 

 Library has a few important serial publications, but I understand 

 that its polic}^ with reference to scientific publications has been to 

 leave them for the State University, a policy which I hope may he 

 modified, especially with reference to certain sets of journals which 

 are practically inaccessible to all scientific workers of Ohio. The 

 librarian has very cordially received a suggestion regarding some 

 co-operation, and I feel assured that any resolution passed by th 

 Academy would receive his cordial attention. 



The |)lan which strikes me • as possible would be for the 

 Society to appoint a committee of three, representing different in- 

 stitutions, which might take the matter in hand, determining how 

 far it would be possible to publish lists of serial journals available 

 in the libraries of different institutions', including the State 

 Library; to receive from members o<i the Academy suggestions as 

 to publications that are especially desirable in their lines of work 

 and to present lists of snch as would be recommended to the State 

 Library with the request that so far as possible such sets should be 

 completed or provicled for in the State Library. The arrange- 

 ments by which books may be obtained from the State Library 

 are already so admirable that probably no change would be neces- 

 sary to make such journals accessible to all established scientific 

 workers of the state. 



Another matter which seems to me to be of particular import- 

 ance and which may propexly claim the efforts of the Society is 

 that of greater support for the investigations upon the natural 



