1961-1962 - American Museum of Natural History

so that it can keep pace with the research continuously being
carried out in the natural sciences. If the Library is to operate
efficiently and to provide the services expected of it, there must
be adequate funds for the purchase of essential books and
periodicals, the binding of thousands of volumes now in serious
disrepair, and the refurbishing of the priceless collection of
rare books.
Accordingly, an advisory group of Friends of the American
Museum Library was formed in December, 1961. Members of
the group are Messrs. Cyril F. dos Passos, Chairman, Richard
Edes Harrison, Harrison D. Horblit, and H. Bradley Martin.
In February, 1962, Mrs. Nancy Russell, rare book restorer,
was engaged to refurbish the collection of rare books. Since
then more than 800 volumes have been repaired, cleaned, and
treated. Several years of full-time activity will be required
to complete this project. It is the Librarian's hope that the
Friends will be instrumental in securing funds to underwrite
the necessary expenses.
Mr. Leslie A. Taylor was appointed to the staff in September,
1961, as Assistant Librarian in charge of cataloguing.
More than 130 serial titles were secured in exchange for
Museum publications. Of the 76 out-of-print books and serials
added to the collection, several are of taxonomic importance.
They include such rarities as Blackwall's "Researches in Zoology"
(London, 1834), Goeze's "Entomologische Beytriage zu
des Ritter Linne 12" (Leipzig, 1777-1783), and Soldani's "Saggio
Orittografico, Ovvero Osservazioni Sopra le Terre Nautilitiche
ed Ammonitiche della Toscana" (Siena, 1780).
The degree to which the Library's resources were utilized in
research activities carried out by colleges and universities, commercial
organizations, various departments of the Federal government,
and other museums is dramatically indicated by the
nearly 100 per cent increase in the number of loans during
the past year. Of the 1132 loan requests processed this past
year, 173 were filled by xerography. During this same period
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