REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON "INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC
LITERATURE."
Your committee begs to report that the final conference of delegates of
the various governments for the purpose of considering an International
Catalogue of Scientific Literature was held in London on June 12 and 13,
1900, and, as intimated in the report of your committee last year, owing
to the failure of Congress to make it possible for delegates with power
to attend, no representatives of the United States were present. Mr.
Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress, who was visiting England at the
time was informally in conference with various members of the Royal
Society and rendered effective service in enabling them to reach a
conclusion.
The conference decided to undertake the issuing of the Catalogue
provided 300 complete subscriptions were received by October 1st, the
quota of the United States in this being 45. During the summer the
Smithsonian Institution issued a circular to American libraries and
universities and learned societies and scientific men, announcing the
fact, with the very gratifying result of the subscription to the
equivalent of over 70 complete sets for a period of five years.
A meeting of the International Council to finally arrange for the
beginning of the work was held in London on December 12 and 13, 1900, at
which the necessary financial arrangements were agreed to, the Royal
Society advancing certain sums and agreeing to act as publisher, and
being authorized to enter into contracts, etc. Doctor H. Foster Morley
was elected director and offices were secured at 34 and 35 Southampton
street, Strand, London, W. C. The initial work has begun. The
preparation of a list of periodicals to be indexed and a more careful
revision of the schedules was the first work to be done. Thus far the
periodical lists for Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
Holland, Japan, Portugal, Canada, India and Ceylon have been printed.
That for the United States is expected to be ready for transmission to
London about August 1st.
In the absence of any provision, the Smithsonian Institution is carrying
on the work for the United States, although with very inadequate force.
It would be very desirable if legislation could be had to enable the
Smithsonian Institution to prosecute this work more vigorously and
without drawing upon its own funds.
J. S. BILLINGS, _Chairman_.
CYRUS ADLER, _Secretary_.
Pres. CARR: Dr. Hosmer has, I think, a communication to make that is of
concern to us all.