Education for the Blind 53 



The lending of lantern slides is under the immediate direc- 

 tion of Mrs. Grace Fisher Ramsey. 



There has been a substantial increase in the work with the 

 blind and sight conservation classes. During the year there 

 have been given in the Museum 125 talks to these 

 th Bl ,T *d classes. These talks or lessons are always illus- 



trated by specimens or apparatus that can be 

 handled by the pupils. In addition to these regular scheduled 

 talks, two classes from the New York Institute for the Blind 

 have visited the Museum for special study in zoology and 

 physical geography. On March 28, the troop of blind Girl 

 Scouts met in the Museum, and as an incentive to work for 

 the honor badge of Zoologist, Miss Crosby gave them a talk 

 on the more common animals, illustrated by living and 

 mounted animals, as well as models. 



Both in the classes in the Public Schools and in the New 

 York Institute for the Blind, the children have opportunity 

 of studying natural history specimens lent by the Museum. 

 An extensive collection of material has been placed in the 

 Nature Room of the New York Guild for the Blind. Fifteen 

 of the regular sight conservation classes are now provided 

 with large relief globes furnished by the Museum. 



This work is made possible through the Jonathan Thorne 

 Memorial Fund, and is under the immediate direction of 

 Mrs. Ruth Crosby Noble. 



The cooperation with the Public Libraries has been 



continued throughout the year. Twenty-two 



Loans to collections of zoological, geographical and his- 



, ., . torical material were circulated among sixteen 



branch libraries, sixty-seven loans being made, 



an increase of 18 loans over 1920. 



Guides for teachers and classes and for Members of the 

 Museum and their friends have been provided whenever re- 

 quested during the year, and these calls have 

 ocen k een numer0US) thus requiring much time on 



the part of the members of the staff. This 

 service has been extended very widely, guides being fur- 

 nished to any school, whether public, private or parochial, 

 and whether the school was located within New York 

 City or beyond its limits. Also guides were furnished for 



