APPENDIX 8. 



REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF 

 SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. 



Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the United States Bureau of the International Catalogue of 

 Scientific Literature for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1922. 



Although the financial conditions of this enterprise were, in com- 

 mon with all other international interests, practically crippled in 

 the beginning of the war, almost all of the regional bureaus have 

 continued to collect and prepare for future publication this index 

 of the world's scientific literature. The activities of this regional 

 bureau have been continued as usual and the data relating to 

 American scientific literature is regularly being prepared ready to 

 forward to the London Central Bureau whenever it is found pos- 

 sible to resume publication. 



An international convention is to be held in Brussels beginning 

 July 22, 1922, to determine the future of the catalogue, and the 

 Smithsonian Institution has prepared and will submit to the dele- 

 gates then present the following statement of its position : 



PKOPOSALS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION EEGAEDING THE INTEENATIONAL 

 CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. 



It is the belief of the Smithsonian Institution : 



1. Tliat a classified subject and author index to the literature of science is 

 needed. 



2. Tliat no better means exists of attaining the end sought than by carrying 

 out the original plan of the International Catalogue based on international 

 cooperation guided by uniform rules and schedules modified to meet changes 

 in the several sciences and. when possible, broadened in scope to include the 

 allied technical branches of these sciences. 



3. That every effort should be made to cooperate with all similar enter- 

 prises, including abstracting agencies, existing or projected, not only to 

 prevent duplication of labor but also to better serve the demands of those in 

 need of bibliographic aid. 



4. That on account of abnormal conditions still controlling publishing costs 

 and monetary es^change it is probable that actual publication can not be 

 at present resumed unless financial aid is had from some source outside the 

 present organization ; however, it is believed : 



5. That the international organization should be kept in being through 

 mutual agreement to continue the work of the regional bureaus until such 

 time as it may be economically possible to resume publication. When that 



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