90 A XX UAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1911. 



There are tow in tbe United States 3,900 institutions and 8,000 individuals 

 recorded in this index, while the foreign institutions number 16,500 and indi- 

 viduals 34,232. A list of the foreign societies and institutions is published 

 from time to time under the title of " International exchange list," the latest 

 issue being that of 1904. 



The public documents received from abroad in exchange are placed in the 

 Library of Congress. The publications received from the scientific and learned 

 societies and institutions of the world form an important part of the Library 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, and while these remain the property of the 

 Institution they are in great part deposited in the Library of Congress. 



The needs of the international exchanges under present conditions may be 

 summarized as follows: The adherence of all the civilized nations of the 

 world to the present conventions. The members of the Congress of Archivists 

 and Librarians can do much to further the movement by lending their efforts 

 to arouse the interest of the scientific and literary institutions and societies 

 and governmental authorities in their respective countries, to the end that 

 official action may be taken. The scientific institutions and societies of each 

 country should examine the workings of the international exchange system 

 and solicit exchange of publications from like societies abroad, using the 

 service as a medium of transmission. 



Governments should provide a sufficient number of sets of their official 

 publications for exchange, purposes in order that each country may have a 

 full set if desired, and in addition there should be copies of the official journals 

 of tbe Parliaments, or similar bodies, for the interparliamentary exchanges. 



Bureaus already established, as well as those to be established, should be 

 granted an appropriation that will allow the carrying out in full of the stipu- 

 lations of the conventions. A well-paid and energetic staff with a well-equipped 

 office would insure expeditious work and prompt delivery. The present facilities 

 for rapid transportation would be greatly increased by each international 

 exchange office having the franking privilege, such as is allowed in the United 

 States, and the granting of special concessions by the postal authorities, through 

 the International Postal Union, which could possibly be arranged should every 

 nation become a party to the present conventions. 



The international exchanges should be extended to every quarter of the 

 globe, and efforts should be made to bring the powers to realize the necessity 

 of perfecting an institution already established which has for its object the 

 " increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 



I gave a resume of the contents of the above paper and was asked for some 

 resolution which could be passed by the congress incorporating a suggestion con- 

 tained in the paper " that the members of the Congress of Archivists and Li- 

 brarians could do much to further the movement by lending their efforts to 

 arouse the interest of the scientific and literary institutions and societies and 

 governmental authorities in their respective countries, to the end that official 

 action may be taken." 



The resolution was presented in English, translated into French, and again 

 translated into English, and appears as follows in the Library Journal : 



That the scientific and literary institutions, as well as the governmental au- 

 thorities of all countries, should unite their efforts to obtain the official pro- 

 vision for international exchanges. — VI. Q. 7. International Exchanges (Paul 

 Brockett, Washington). 



Regarding the use of the exchange service by private institutions, M. Langlois, 

 Bibliothecaire-en-chef de 1'Institut Catholique, of Paris, having experienced some 

 difficulty in sending packages from France, presented the following resolution : 



That the international exchanges should be accorded, liberally and in the in- 

 terest of all workers, to establishments of private initiative (libraries of free in- 

 stitutions and learned societies), which conform to the general regulations and 

 provide reciprocity. — VII. Q. 7. (M. Langlois, Paris, as amended by M. Gros- 

 jean, Bruxelles.) 



