the century it was said to be the most extensive of its kind west of 
the Alleghenies. The hbrary consists of approximately seventy 
thousand volumes and is increasing at the rate of about a thousand 
volumes a year. Preserved here are the journals and reports of 
scientific organizations, learned societies and universities from all 
parts of the world covering a period of many years. Here are the 
original contributions of scientific workers in many fields. It should 
be stressed that, not only are the older publications found here, but 
the latest scientific literature is being received daily. The fact that 
some of the material is very rare and not available elsewhere in the 
west especially emphasizes the importance of the libary. Publica- 
tions in all branches of both pure and applied sciences are represented. 
One may find the significant literature of the early years of develop- 
ment in many fields and thus the library is invaluable to investigators 
who desire to go into the early work on their subject. Its value 
to commercial and industrial concerns of the community is evident. 
After our building on Olive Street became inadequate the library 
was shelved in the St. Louis Public Library and later in the Wash- 
ington University Library. These institutions were unable to continue 
housing the large Academy of Science Library because of their 
demands for space. In the near future it will be available in the 
new library building of St. Louis University. 
The library has been built and maintained by the exchange of 
the Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis for the 
publications of other institutions and learned societies. Many do 
not realize the important status of these publications of the Academy. 
Up to recent years no academy of science in this country could 
present a more creditable record of publication. Three hundred and 
ninety-seven scientific treatises have been published, many of them 
of considerable importance even today. There are original descrip- 
tions of the geology, flora and fauna of the west. There are transla- 
tions of Egyptian papyrus scrolls and American Indian legends. 
"^rV^^ P^P^rs ranging from astronomy, meteorology, mathematics 
and physics to archaeology and ethnology. The continued sale of many 
of tliese publications is an indication of their importance. The Academy 
has been negligent about keeping up with this fine tradition. It is 
still a dutv nf tKi^ Xr^^A^. , 1.- ._ 1 1. 1 -.1 1 .V j^ ^/^f have 
journals o; 
importance 
articles 
BULG^ 
16 
