The times., 1901-05-19
OF BENEFIT TO SCIENTISTS
The System of Exchange of Val.
uabfe Publications.
n HeciProcnl Arrangement Between
institutions of the Leading M
tions--Thc Part the Smithsonian
Institution Takes in the uatter

institutions of the Leading Ma
hons-Thc Part the Smithsonian
Institution Takes in the Matter.
Possibly it is not generally known that
the system Of exchange of publications
between scientific literary institutions
winch is now becoming generally adopted
throughout this country and Europe. was
originated by Alexandra Vattemare. NJ
] Nattemare, native of Paris. viAs a ven
triioquist by profession but sacrificed his
! emlhence in that curious art for his pas
| sion Tor books. He came to the United
| States in 1888, and again in 1917 He is
| credited with being the means of adding
| 100000 volumes to the libraries of this
country.
| The most striking Illustration of NJ
! Eattemare's system is furnished by the
| Smithsonian Institution The method of
foreign interchange adopted here reaches
! every quarter of the globe. 1t is curious
to watch batch of exchanges being
sent from the institution, which is regu-
lariy done every day. Pamphlets upon
the most abstruse subjects are sent to ap-
| pheants in the most far distant cIimes-
India, China, Siberia, etc In return
! scientific publications in all languages.
| including the Oriental and Arabic, are re-
| celved in return. 1t is only by witnessing,
/ the sending and receiving of matter in
| TINS way that one realizes the work that
! is being done at the institution in the
line laid down by it's founder, namely
| the increase and diffusion of knowledge
| among men,.
The first volume of Smithsonian pubIi-
| cations issued was memoir on the
ancient monuments of the Mississippi
Valley by Squier and Davis, published in
md
1t was found that by the establishment
of agencies in different parts of the world
for the exchange of the institutions own
publications. other exchanges could be
carried on through them at slight addi-
tional expense and the Smithsonian In
stitution accordingly offered to other in
stitutions of learning and in some cases
to individuals the privilege of sending
and receiving small packages through
these agencies.
The system of conducting the foreign
exchange is to issue at stated periods a
circular to the effect that the Smith
sonian Institution is preparing to send
copies of its publications to the different
libraries and societies in Europe and
other parts of the world. and that it will
undertake the transmission and safe de-
livery of the publications of other Amerf-
can institutions. in accordance with GER
tain rules providing in effect that the
packages shall be properly wrapped, ad-
dressed, and delivered to the institution
IN washington ana accompanied by
detailed invoice. No charge Is made for
the expense of mailing if the parcels be
of moderate bulk.
These facilities have proved of such
value that the exchange service has as
sumed much wider Importance than was
anticipated at its inception, though, as
far as the exchange of the Smithsonian
publication proper is concerned, the pTia-
object a
large library for the institution, as to
diffuse among men a knowledge of the
new truths discovered by the agency Of
the Smithsonian fund.
In the language of a prominent official
of the Smithsonian, the worth and i'm
portance of the institution are not to be
estimated by what il accumulates with
in the walls of its building, but by what
it sends forth TO the world. Its great mis-
sion is TO facilitate the use of all the i'm
plementS of research, and to dlHuse me
knowledge. which this use may develop. |
The Smithsonian publications are sent 10 |
some institutions abroad, and to the great |
majority of those at home. without any |
return except, in some cases, that of CO. |
operation in meteorological observations.
In carrying out this plan, the institu- |
ton is much indebted to the liberal course |
adopted by the Government of Great /
Britain and to the ready cooperation of |
the Royal Society Of London. All pack |
ages intended for Great Britain. for some |
parts of the Continent, and the East In |
dies, are directed to the care of the Royal |
Society. and on the certificate OF its Pres
ident, are, by special order of the Gov |
ernment admitted duty free, and without !
the delay and risk of inspection There is, |
therefore, no port to which the SmIthson-
ian parcels are shipped where duties are |
charged on them-a certified invoice of |
contents by the Secretary being sufficient !
TO pass them through the custom house
free OF duty. On the other hand all |
packages addressed 70 the institution, ar
irving at the ports Of the United States |
are admitted, without detention. duty free
This system of exchange is therefore, the
most extensive and efficient which has
ever been established in any country.
An essential feature of the Smithsonian |
exchange service is to secure the CO.
operation of an important scientific so |
ciety or permanent library in the princi-
pal foreign countries willing to undertake |
the distribution of publications it may
receive for institutions in its neighbor-
hood In many instances. also, members
of the diplomatic and consular service of
the United States render efficient aid and
prominent publishing houses like
wise act as local agents.
In recognition of the disinterested work
OF the institution, many of the principal
companies have granted to ii |
important concessions in free freight and
this friendly aid has added not little
to the growth of the system Among
others. the Secretary made special ac-
of obligations to the United
States Mail Steamship Company, the |
Panama Railroad Company and the Pa
ciiic Mail Steamship Company. as well as |
houses in this country. Prof. Baird has
said of the system:
NO one of the various operations |
carried on by the Smithsonian Institu-
ton is of more Importance in the ad-
vancement of science than that of the in |
ternational exchange of publications be-
tween the Governments and their bu-
reaus, departments, the learned institu-
tions. and scientific men of the two |
worlds. NOtWit hstandiug the increase of |
Lhe governmental international system
Ia which quite a number of nations have | ;
Joined. the work of the Smithsonian In |
stitution still continues to be OF pre- |
eminent magnitude and Importance. Ori-
snally initiated for the purpose of dis Q
ributng the publications of the Smith /
'0niGn Institution to libraries, societies. |
md learned men abroad, and to relieve | I
returns for the same, it was gradually | I
extended so to take within its sphere | 5
III the establishments in the New World j
a similar service. Indeed. by T
his system of agencies in various por- :
ions Of the world. To which packages q
we're sent for transmission to destina- /
ion, and whore returns were gathered
md forwarded to Washington, 1t main '
aimed an arrangement of it's own. entire T
y Independent of any other organization
Two Ways to Tell Story.
(From the Saturday Evening Post)