as the room here. In view, therefore, of the particular conditions in Washington, as well as of the general proprieties under which the work of the resident blind forms now a regular activity of the municipal library, the authorities of the Public Library are arranging to take over at least certain portions of the service which has been maintained here. The books in raised type will be deposited with the Public Library (under the general enabling authority of the appropriation act for 1909-10, quoted in my last report, p. 24) for circulation from there, and the lectures, readings, and musicales of the coming season will be held there. The remaining service performed here (that noted in item 2 above)—that is to say, the accumulation and supply of information, including that as to projects for the amelioration of the condition of the blind-will naturally ultimately follow the collection of books and the other activities local to the District; since the inquiries themselves are most apt to issue from the occasions themselves, and the persons inquiring are brought together by the occasions.. During the coming year, however, this service will still be available here, the assistant who has made a specialty of it, as custodian of the Reading Room for the Blind, remaining upon our rolls, while continuing also her services in connection. with the collection in its new location. Respectfully submitted HERBERT PUTNAM The Honorable THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE The Honorable THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE LIBRARY BUILDING AND GROUNDS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Washington, D. C., December 5, 1910 SIR: I have the honor to submit my annual report on the custody, care, and maintenance of the Library Building and Grounds of the Library of Congress for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. The range of duties and responsibilities comprehended by this office and enumerated specifically in the last annual report have continued without important modification throughout the last fiscal year. As before also the details of the operations and their character and extent may be seen from the tables of expenditures below. As anticipated in that report, the service has so far increased in quantity that certain moderate additions to the caretaking fund and working force have become imperative in order to maintain proper standards. Under the conditions now reached in the growth and development of the Library, reasonable convenience and cleanliness are possible only at the front and in the more public spaces. Minimum provisions for meeting them, as contained in the present slightly increased annual estimates, are respectfully submitted. As heretofore explained, practically all the mechanical and manual labor of the entire Library in its several divisions and functions, excepting printing and binding, which, under the law, is done by the Government Printing Office, is performed by this office. No funds are appropriated for performing such work by the Library, which consequently and properly must all be done by the Superintendent's force, such as heavy moving and handling of the Library material and collections, cleaning, mechanical overhauling, and renovation, as well as the necessary design, construction, supply and maintenance of every required sort of furniture, receptacle, or apparatus for the convenient and safe handling, housing, and preservation of the Library accumulations. VISITORS TO THE LIBRARY BUILDING During the year July 1, 1909, to June 30, 1910, the count of visitors to the building and users of the Library was as follows: |