The peculiar position of the Smithsonian Institution suggested the
application of this plan, on a wider scale, and for a more important
purpose, than that of merely facilitating the publication of new and
complete editions of separate catalogues.
It had been proposed to form a general catalogue of all the books in
the country, with references to the libraries where each might be
found. The plan of stereotyping titles, separately, suggested the
following system for the accomplishment of this important purpose:
1. The Smithsonian Institution to publish Rules for the preparation
of Catalogues.
2. Other institutions, intending to publish catalogues of their
books, to be requested to prepare them in accordance with these
rules, with a view to their being stereotyped under the direction of
the Smithsonian Institution.
3. The Smithsonian Institution to pay the whole _extra_ expense of
stereotyping, or such part thereof as may be agreed on.
4. The stereotyped titles to remain the property of the Smithsonian
Institution.
5. Every library, acceding to this plan, to have the right of using
all the titles in the possession of the Institution, as often as
desired, for the printing of its own catalogue, by the Smithsonian
Institution; paying only the expense of making up the pages, of
press-work, and of distributing the titles to their proper places.
6. The Smithsonian Institution to publish, as soon as possible, and
at stated intervals, a General Catalogue of all Libraries coming into
this system.