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A N N U A L R E P O R T

LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS,

T H E PROGRESS O F THE L I B R A R Y

CALENDAR YEAR 1896.

WASHINGTON:WVERNMEN'l! PRINTING OFFIOE.

1897.

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A N N U A L R E P O R TOF THE

L I B R A R I A N OF ' C O N Q R E B SFOR THE CALENDAR YEAR lm.

L I B B ~ YF Corn-,Wau&ingtorr,Mq 28,1897.The Librarian respeotfnlly submitti herewith hie annual report, whichembreces a summary of the increaae of the Librery and the b n e i mtransacted in the copyright office during the,celendar year closingDecember 31,1896.The e~ tima ted ggregate number of volumes in the Librqy et thedate named is 748,116, in addition to which are to be reckoned about

245,000 pamphlete, exhibiting an increase over the yesf 1896 of 16,674volumse.A substantial inorease in the large and engrossing copyright buei-nees of the Lib- is reported, notwithstanding the prolongation ofthe commercial and industrial depression in the counhy. This i n m w eis due in par t to exteneion of the international copyright businesswith foreign countries, especially in the class of public8tions comingunder the head of musical compoeitions. There are now e m b d nthe privilege of copyright in the United Bfatea the citizens or 8ub-of eleven foreign Governmentti, namely, Great Britain and her depend-enciea, Francs, Germany, Italy, Bpain, Portugal, Belgium, Bwifcerlrmd,Denmark, Chile, and Mexico.. The total new entries of copyright during the year 1896 were 72,470,embracing all varietiee of publications coming under the protaction ofthe law. This was an increaee of 4,808 entriee over thoee of the year1896. The aggregate fees received and paid into the Trewnry onaccount of copyright mounted to $54,870, as against $52,282.66 theyear preceding, being an increeee of $2,887.45.The following table exhibite the number and deeignation of the v&-ous class- of publiwtione entered during the yeer under the law ofcopyright:

Nsnber of mbmd Irr 1896.Book (includingd1 pnblioationo entered aa mah)..........................Periodicah ................................................................ U, 98M r d d 0 8 1 p d u a 6 a . ...................................................... m, R'. 8

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4 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.-....................................................ramatic oomposi tion~~. 907...............................................................hotographs 6,133..............................................................ngravings.. 1,fm,..,...............................................................ithographs I13

Chromos................................................................... 136Printa ..................................................................... 2.388cuts ....................................................................... WJDesigns.................................................................... 1,558Drawings.................................................................. 324Paintings .................................................................. 1,105...................................................................

/Statuary 73Maps ...................................................................... 1,198Charts..................................................................... 1,070

Total ...................... . .................................... 72,470As the designation '6 books" necessarily embraces many miscella-neous printed publications not issued in book form (including, forexample, syndicate articles, circnlars, stories in periodicals, and manyother forms of printed mat ter) entered as books, from the want ofany more accurate designation in the copyright lam, it follo~vs ha t thelarge apparent return of books entered does not represent so many

actnai volumes. The deposits in the office of the different classes ofpublications were approximately the following:Books (including all publications entered a8 siioh).......................... 15,628Periodicals .............................~.................................. 12,806Musical compositione ...................................................... 17,109

.....................................................ramatic compositions M(9Photographs.. ............................................................. 5,447Engravings ................................................................ 1,327Lithographa ............................................................... 634Chromos................................................................... 67Printe ..................................................................... 3fXCute....................................................................... 377Designs and drawings ..................................................... 486Mape ................................................ ,.... ...... :... ..... 1,130Charte..................................................................... 240

Total ................................................................ 55,906The above exceeds the deposited publications of the preceding year(1895) by 4,840. As a deposit of two copies of each publication pro-tected by copyright is required, the aggregate of publications of allkinds actually received ac t he Library during the year under review

was about 112,000 different articles. By reason of noncompliance with$he law, in many cases, and because of the fact that inultitudes ofeutries of copyright do not involve actual publication of what is entered,the registered books and other articles deposited always fall muchbehind the actual recorded entries of title.The issue of the weeltly catalogue of publica,tions received a t theLibrary, under the provisious of the copyright law of 1891, furnishedto the Treasury Department by the Librarian, ha8 been regularly con-tinued throughout the year. The customs collectors at all portu of

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I ANNUAL REPORT O F THE LIBKARLAN OF' CONQRE88. 5entry are furnished with these lists, in aid of a,rresting unlawfolimportatiolls of copyright publications, printed abroad without per-mission of tlie proprietors. Considerable numbers of the edition ofthis catalogue are also taken by subscribers, a t the c o ~ t rice of $6 syear, paid a t any United States custom-house.The subject of urgently needed additions to the clerical force in theconstai~t ly rowiilg copyright department wa.s commended to the attan-tion of Congress in my last report. Since that time detailed and care-fully prepared estimates of the additional force of copyright clerks andLibrary assistauts required for efficient service and administration inthe new building were submitted by me in October, 1896, through theTreasury Department, and they have been substantially approved bythe of Congress in the act of February 19, 1897. The same actmakes provision for the removal of the books and other collections ofth e Library.While a due regard for the convenience and necessary use of theLibrary by Congress would not permit a complete removal of the coll wtions during the present special session of Congress, a large portion ofthe duplicates and the copyright collections have already been trans-ferred. On the termination of the session the entire Library will beremoved, preserving in the distribution of i ts various departments a8near a systematic order as posaible, and to this end the closing of theLibrary for a brief term will become necessary.With the provision for assistants to be employed upon the catalogueof the Library, it is designed to enter imlnediately upon th e prepam-tion and print ing of a complete catalogue of the collections, arrangedin an alphabet of subjects, the card ca.talogue by allthors being alreadysubstantially up to date.The completion, since th e las t annual report of the undersigned, ofthe commodious and beautiful new Library building isn proper subjsctof congratulation to Congress slid to the American people. Plannedthroughout with a view to the accommodation and prompt service of agreat library collection in all its departments, it s utility may be said tohave realized the chief end of library architecture, while the beauty ofth e edifice, both in its exterior walls and interior decorations (a ll byAmerican art.ists) appeals eminently to the public taste.

Now that the large expenditure upon construction of the buildinghas ceased, i t is earnestly hoped that thi s invaluable collection will besedulously increased by liberal appropriations to fill all important defl-ciencies. To this end th e undersigned is preparing a carefully digested . .list of de6iderata, to be submitted to the Joint Committee on theLibrary a t an early day.Very respectfully, AINSWORTH . SPOFFORD,Librarian of Congreee.Hon. GEOBGEPEABODYWETMORE,Chairman of the Join t Uommittee on the Library .