The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-10-29

book exchange which annually handles
about 100000 packages Of books az.
gregating half million pounds in
all parts of the globe. II is the gov
ernments clearing house for official
and scientific literature, and is known
as the international exchange system
o. the Smithsonian exchanges.
Most OF the shipments made contain
full sets Of United States government
documents for authorized repositories,
and the balance consist OF depart.
mental and other publications for
miscellaneous correspondents. The
lists OF Smithsonian exchange CORE
spondents include about 10000 sepa-
rate addresses.
These figures furnish some idea of
the large scope Of operation OF a sys-
TEN which. outside the scientific and
academic world, is not generally
known. DR.. Cyrus Adler, assistant
secretary Of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, in charge Of the library and ex-
changes, explained recently the pur-
pose and work of this international lit
erary clearing house.
THE exchange service" he said, "is
almost as old as the institution itself
1t was originally designed for the pur-
pose of exchanging Smithsonian pub
llcations for those OF other learned So
cieties and faculties. Through the ac-
ton OF congress and through a treaty
negotiated with various foreign coun-
| tries, TO which many nations have
! since adhered. II has become an i'm
portant international agency for the
exchange Of governmental, scientific
and literary publications. II is devised
TO benefit the institutions in this coun-
try and abroad, serving as one of the
most important means for carrying
out the fundamental purpose Of the in
stitution, the increase and diffusion OF
knowledge among men
"lt is through this system that the
original documents, reports OF scien-
tific experiments, official transactions
I OF societies, governmental publications
and like productions are sent to the IL
/ braries and kindred institutions of the
world, at a great saving OF labor and
! expense. Instead OF each society, as
sociation or academy sending docu.
ments to a thousand others. a constant
circulation is maintained through the
medium Of the Smithsonian Institu-
/ ton.
The operation Of an official ex-
change bureau OF this sort gains the
benefits OF centralized effort. When
boxes and packages are properly
stamped by the Smithsonian Institu-
/ ton and marked international EX
changes, customs inspection is
waived. For long time many steam
ship lines went so far as TO provide
free transportation on all packages
of Smithsonian exchanges. Further
privileges. such as the waving of Ger.
tain consular fees on bills OF lading
are enjoyed by the exchange system,
making il altogether Of great service
not only To the government which sup
ports II. but to its citizens as well.
The government appropriation avail
able for this service during the pres
ent year Is $50 600"
|
airy exchange system is not new. 1t
was first permanently established 70
years ago by II. Alexandra Vattemare
OF Paris. Az early as 1924, how
ever, the royal library of France,
authorized by King Louis XIV, con-
Quoted an international exchange for
several years, and the American Phil
osophical society (fouEded in l7i3)
and the American Academy OF Arts
and Sciences (founded in 1850,
at the beginning of the nineteenth cen
tury. traded their proceedings and
transactions for those Of foreign scien
tic societies Mr.. Vattemare's ef
forts began In 1882, when he succeed
I'd in interesting many learned men OF
Europe in his plans. In 1898 he visit
ed the United States and obtained the
Endorsement Of many leadins Ameri
cans, among them Washington Irving
Joel r. Poinsett, then secretary o
war; Gulian c. Nerplanck. and alsC
the governments of number of cities
On his second visit TO this country h'
was designated as the agent Of the Ii
brary Of Congress TO conduct the eN
change system established betweeI
France and the United States.
The National institute Of this coun
try in 1910 set up a similar interna
tional exchange OF natural histor.
specimens. Although the Smithsonian
exchange system had no direct cor
nection with these established be
tween national governments by NJ
Vattemare, II soon superseded all 9th
er plans for international exchanges
The institution was founded in lS4
''for the increase and diffusion Q
knowledge among men," To furthe
the second term of this bcquest tn
hrst volume of the Smithsonian pul