54 Report of the President 



the structure of wood and the growth of trees, everywhere 

 putting emphasis on the market woods. It has also a chapter 

 on the identification of trees in winter. 



In addition to regular departmental work, the associate 

 editorship of the American Museum Journal and Guide 

 Leaflets was carried until June, when the editorship was 

 assumed. 



THE LIBRARY 



Ralph W. Tower, Curator 



Department of Books and Publications. — To establish 

 a library of natural history was one of the chief concerns of the 

 founders of this Museum and accordingly provision therefor 

 was included in the contract of 1877 with the City. During 

 the first thirty years the library did not grow apace with 

 other departments of the institution. It is true that during 

 this period many and valuable private collections were 

 presented to it, but apparently no sustained effort was made 

 to combine them into a practical unit either by revision or 

 accession. During the last decade enthusiasm has increased, 

 several scientific societies have deposited their books in our 

 custody, and altogether a serious attempt has been made to 

 make this library one of the most comprehensive and com- 

 plete of its kind in the country. 



The present library represents the collections of the New 

 York Academy of Sciences, The New York Microscopical 

 Society, The Linnaean Society of New York, The American 

 Ethnological Society and The American Museum of Natural 

 History, which total in scientific works some 40,000 volumes 

 and 20,000 pamphlets. It is important to note here that each 

 pamphlet is bound, indexed and takes its place on the shelf 

 together with the other volumes, thus becoming an accessible 

 and efficient work of reference. 



The assembling under one roof of the libraries of these 

 scientific institutions has secured a very important and valu- 

 able series of the publications of the learned societies of the 

 world, a collection which is rapidly gaining a leading position 

 in America. This section of the library is maintained prima- 

 rily by exchange and much has been accomplished during the 



