During the last two years the policy of grouping pamphlets under some one general head, binding them in book form and shelf-listing same has been thoroughly and systematically carried out. The consequence is that hundreds of valuable pamphlets heretofore inaccescible can now be traced at once, by means of the card catalogue, to their places on the shelves; thus greatly facilitating the endeavor of the student of themes and of affairs to find the valuable subject matter included in pamphlet literature and oftentimes not to be found elsewhere. Meantime we are continuing the policy, now fully approved by experience, of placing upon the shelves, with books of their respective classes, the many temporarily valuable pamphlets which come to us through the mails and otherwise, leaving to the future a determination of their relative value. Several librarians in other states have since adopted this method of handling pamphlets, thus readily, and thus far satisfactorily, solving one of the most perplexing problems of library administration. Recent Purchases. The accessions of both new and out-of-print books, during the past two years, as shown by the list appended to this report have greatly strengthened the library as a source of information and inspiration. Not a few broken sets have been filled and others have been materially strengthened. The new books have been selected with the utmost care from a study of catalogues and reviews and have been brought together from all the great book markets of the world. Exchanges with State Institutions, etc. During the past two years I have inaugurated an extensive system of book, periodical and document exchange with the State University library, the library of the State Historical Society, and the library of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. By this system all parties to the exchange have been materially benefited and the reference libraries of the state have been correspondingly strengthened. To illustrate: The library of the State Historical Society has received on exchange account thirty-six volumes and numbers and has reciprocated by sending to the State Library sixty-six volumes and numbers and will follow these with others at no distant date. To further illustrate: The State University library is in receipt of fourteen volumes of Poore's Railroad Manual, the price of which is ten dollars a volume. These came to the library, as duplicates, from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The exchange is not confined to State Institutions. The State Library, with the aid of the Library Commission, has recently sent to the library of the University of Chicago, a number of periodicals and in return is about to receive a long list of valuable documents and works. All these exchanges are effected with no other expense than that of carriage. The Library of Congress is also in our debt for duplicate copies of periodicals and is from time to time paying the debt by meeting our draft on its duplicate list of periodicals. It is my purpose to co-operate with all institutions having duplicate lists from which we may draw. For, in the purchase of material with which to fill sets in the library-especially at auction sales it is inevitable that duplicates are acquired. These would be comparatively valueless but for some system of exchange such as has been inaugurated. Classification of Books in Library. Spataung the un accessioned pamphlets from the books, the number of books and pamphlets in the library, as shown by a careful verification of the shelf-list, is as follows: Miscellaneous Department. (000) General Works-Bibliography, Library Economy, (100) Philosophy-Metaphysics, Philosophical Systems, (200) Religion-Natural Theology, Bible, Devotional and Practical, Homiletic, Caurch, Institutions, Religious History, Christian Churches and Sects, NonChristian Religions.... 7,996 696 ... 2,600 (300) Sociology Statistics, Political Science, Political Economy, Administration, Associations and Institutions, Education, Commerce, Customs, ostumes, Folk-lore.... (400) Philology-Comparative, English, Other Languages. (500) Natural Science-Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Paleontology, Biology, Botany, Zoology..... 4,548 3,292 (600) Useful Arts-Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Domestic Economy, Commerce, Manufactures, Trades, Building... 2,514 (700) Fine Arts-Landscape gardening, Architecture, Sculpture, Drawing, Painting, Engraving, Photography, Music, Amusements.... (800) Literature-American and English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Greek, Minor Languages. including Poetry, Drama, Fiction, Essays, Oratory, Letters, Humor, Philosophy and History of Literature, Treatises, Collections, Literary periodicals... (900) History-Geography and Description, Biography, Ancient History, Modern History,-Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceanica, and Polar Regions. ... Duplicates not withdrawn and in use.. 1,219 5,141 Total.. 8,630 863 37,685 Documents Classified by Countries, Provinces, States and Territories. United States..... Congressional Record, Globe, American State Miscellaneous pamphlets... Total volumes and pamphlets..... 3,625 636 934 680 2,450 .... 8,325 Law Department. Text-books-State Reports, United States Reports, Foreign Reports, Statutes, Laws and Digests, Home and 26,066 3,320 (The books in this department are presented Historical Department. Books, Periodicals, Documents, Pamphlets, etc.-exclusive of newspapers volumes-as per report of Curator of Historical Department...... Total in the three Departments.... (Exclusive of duplicates held for exchange and gift.) Completion of the new Building. 14.182 107,424 As stated in my last report, the law consolidating the Miscellaneous portion of the State Library with the Historical Department could not be carried out, so far as relates to the actual transfer of all the books in the Miscellaneous Department from the State Library to the west wing of the new building occupied by the Historical Department, owing to want of space in that wing of the new building. Permit me to urge upon the 31st General Assembly, on reassembling in January, 1906, the desirability of giving early attention to the necessity which recent legislation has imposed—and which is emphasized by the growing necessity of a Hall of Archives, and the increasing needs of the Historical Department and of the Miscellaneous and Law Departments as well-namely: an appropriation ample for the speedy completion and furnishing of the new building. Acknowledgments. I take pleasure in acknowledging the uniform courtesy which the president and members of the Library Board have accorded me in furthering my plans for the upbuilding of the State Library and the wise counsel and generous aid rendered. |