THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 29 



the past year than at any previous period. The books have been pro- 

 visionally arranged according to subjects, and considerable progress 

 made in a full catalogue as well as in an index to the chronological 

 record of the daily reception of books as they are placed in the library. 

 The first part of a descriptive catalogue of the works received in ex- 

 change has been published, and the second part is now in process of 

 preparation. An extra number of the first part has been struck off, 

 and copies have been sent in the form of an appendix to the seventh 

 volume of Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, to all foreign 

 societies, in order that our deficiencies may be made known, and an 

 appeal made to our contributors for their supply. This list will also 

 be of much importance to persons engaged in original research in this 

 country, since it will give them, in a separate catalogue, a knowledge 

 of the rich collection of Transactions and proceedings of literary and 

 scientific societies in the possession of the Institution. 



The value of a library is not to be estimated by the number of 

 volumes it contains, but by the character of the books of which it is 

 composed. It is the present intention of the Regents to render the 

 Smithsonian library the most extensive and perfect collection of Trans- 

 actions and scientific works in this country, and this it will be enabled 

 to accomplish by means of its exchanges, which will furnish it with 

 all the current journals and publications of societies, while the sep- 

 arate series may be completed in due time as opportunity and means 

 may offer. The Institution has already more complete sets of Trans- 

 actions of learned societies than are to be found in the oldest libraries 

 in the United States, and on this point we speak on the authority of 

 one of the first bibliographers of the day. This plan is in strict ac- 

 cordance with the general policy of the Institution, viz : to spend its 

 funds on objects which cannot as well be accomplished by other means, 

 and has commended itself to those who are well able to appreciate 

 its merits, and who are acquainted with the multiplicity of demands 

 made upon the limited income of the Smithsonian fund. In a letter, 

 after a visit to Washington, the bibliographer before alluded to remarks : 

 u My previous opinions as to the judiciousness of the system pur- 

 sued by the Smithsonian Institution, in every respect, were more than 

 confirmed. I hope you will not change in the least. Your exchanges 

 will give you the most important of all the modern scientific publica- 

 tions, and the older ones can be added as you find them necessary. 

 The library, I think, should be confined strictly to works of science." 



A thorough examination has been made of the series of journals and 

 transactions of societies ; deficiencies have been noted, and, as far as 

 possible, supplied, and the whole placed in the hands of the binder. 

 This was considered indispensable for their preservation and use. 

 The separate parts are in danger of being lost or injured so long as 

 they remain in a pamphlet form. During the past year $2,043 have 

 been expended in the binding of 3,668 volumes. The entire west wing 

 of the building has been appropriated to the library, and three sides 

 of this large apartment are now occupied with books. By placing 

 two rows of cases, each of a double story, along the middle of the 

 room, the amount of shelf room may be tripled, and space may thus be 

 obtained sufficient for the wants of the library for a number of years. 



