REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY 49 



During the year 7,59G books were borrowed from the library and 

 4,208 returned. Ninety-two persons are now authorized under the reg- 

 ulations to draw books from the Museum library. Two hundred and 

 forty eight requests were sent to the Library of Congress during the 

 year. Three thousand two hundred and seventy titles have been added 

 to the card catalogue. 



Since the last report the sectional libraries of Lithology and Metal- 

 lurgy have been combined, forming the section of Geology, under the 

 charge of Mr. G. P. Merrill, and the sectional library of Transporta- 

 tion and Engineering, in charge of Mr. J. E. Watkins, has beeu organ- 

 ized. 



The usual inspection of the sectional libraries was made between May 

 1 and June 10, and the books were found to be in good condition. 



The number of books assigned to these libraries is as follows : 



Birds. — 540 volumes, 31 pamphlets, and 177 parts of serials. 



Editor, Smithsonian Institution. — 601 volumes and pamphlets, 546 parts. 



Ethnology. — 143 volumes, 20 pamphlets, 143 parts. 



Fishes. — 82 volumes, 8 pamphlets, 38 parts. 



Geology. — 536 volumes, 308 pamphlets, 41.2 parts, 32 charts. 



Insects. — 466 volumes, 267 pamphlets, 621 parts. 



Mammals. — 187 volumes, 313 pamphlets. 



Marine Invertebrates. — 85 volumes, 3 pamphlets, 118 charts. 



Materia Mediea. — 235 volumes, 4 pamphlets, 269 parts. 



Mesozoic Fossils. — 35 volumes, 10 pamphlets, 13 parts. 



Mineralogy. — A. 177 volumes, 6 pamphlets, 281 parts; B. 72 volumes. 48 pamph- 

 lets, 8 parts. 



Molhisca and Cenozoic Fossils. — 76 volumes, 13 pamphlets, 270 parts. 



Oriental Archaeology. — 225 volumes, 94 pamphlets, 283 parts. 



Plants, Recent and Fossil.— 380 volumes, 204 pamphlets, 886 parts. 



Prehistoric Anthropology. — G6 volumes, 17 pamphlets, 49 parts (in addition to the 

 Rau Memorial Library, which is not yet wholly catalogued). 



Textiles and Foods. — 27 volumes, 43 pamphlets, 30 parts. 



Transportation and engineering. — 46 volumes, 292 parts. 



The books referred to in the last report as having beeu sent to the 

 Government bindery were all bound and returned to the library by 

 August 15, 1889. 



The assignment of additional clerical assistance to the library has 

 enabled the librarian to dispose of a considerable portion of the ac- 

 cumulated arrears of cataloguing and other similar work, and it will 

 soon be possible to begin the much- needed subject-catalogue. 



Eight new book-cases have beeu built in the passage-way adjoining 

 the library. By filling these with classes of books less often referred 

 to, relief was obtained for the crowded cases in the library, but the lat- 

 ter are rapidly filling up again. 



The library grows so fast that any temporary measures like those 

 mentioned are of little real moment. The library needs a room large 

 H. Mis. 129, pt. 2 4 



