82 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The following universities have sent complete sets of their academic publications, 

 including inaugural dissertations: 



Basel, Greifswald, Leipzig, 



Berlin, Halle-Wurtem, Louvain, 



Bern, Heidelburg, Lund, 



Bonn, Helsingfors, Marburg, 



Breslau, Jena, Tubingen, 



Erlangen, Johns Hopkins, Utretcht, 



Freiburg, Kiel, Wurzburg, 



Giessen, Konigsberg, Zurich. 



Of late a considerable number of American universities have begun to publisu 

 dissertations accepted for the degree of doctor of philosophy, and correspondence is 

 now in progress for the purpose of securing full sets of these for the Library. 



For some time the question of providing reading matter for the employees of the 

 Institution has been under consideration. During the year the Secretary authorized 

 the purchase and binding of sets of a number of the more important literary maga- 

 zines. These magazines, which are freely used, are also of much value in a scientific 

 library, as they often contain early reports of explorations, new discoveries, and 

 inventions. 



Through a course of changes in the Smithsonian Building, much needed improve- 

 ments in the ventilation and lighting of the reading room and library offices were 

 rendered possible. 



The list of donors to the library has become so large that it is impossible to specify 

 them. Attention, however, must be directed to a magnificent gift of His Imperial 

 Majesty the Sultan of Turkey of more than fifty volumes of photographs represent- 

 ing the present condition of the Ottoman Empire in all departments of industry, 

 learning, and art. The Institution has also acquired the library of the late Robert 

 Stanton Avery by bequest. 



In addition to the reading room, which contains the current periodicals and trans- 

 actions of learned societies, a room is provided for works of reference, and sectional 

 libraries relating to astronomy and aerodromics are maintained. A collection of 

 books and catalogues containing addresses is deposited in the office of the Bureau of 

 International Exchanges. 



The library has now set apart five communicating rooms on the north side of the 

 first floor, as well as a room on the second floor of the building, for prints. In addi- 

 tion to these, the various sectional libraries above referred to are kept in the differ- 

 ent office rooms. The space assigned is more than double that allowed in past years, 

 and the facilities thus accorded are much appreciated by the staff of the Institution 

 and of the various scientific bureaus of the Government in Washington. 



By your direction I spent the months of August and September, 1894, in England 

 and on the Continent of Europe, in examining into the exchange service. I also 

 visited a number of libraries and booksellers and secured information concerning the 

 indexing of scientific literature. A detailed report upon these subjects has already 

 been presented to you. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Cyrus Adler, Librarian. 



Mr. S. P. Langley, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



