Page:A Short History of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (1909).djvu/50

32 During the administration of Dr. Ruschenberger it had been his practice to read at the annual meeting a résumé of the history of the year. These had been discontinued until 1901 when, at the beginning of the new century, Dr. Dixon prepared a summarized account of the operations of the society during the intervening twenty years.

Because of the constantly increasing tendency to the division of scientific interests into specialties, the organization of sections and special societies, and the consequent interference with attendance on general meetings, an amendment to the By-Laws was adopted in 1903, providing for the holding of meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from October to May, inclusive, thus reducing the number of sessions from fifty-two to sixteen.

An appropriation of $20,000 from the State Legislature, in 1905, was expended in replacing the roof of the old building by one which more effectually safeguarded the collections from damage by storms. Another appropriation of $150,000 received last year has secured the erection of a fire-proof building on the remaining section of the lot. In the rear portion of the structure the library has been arranged in five tiers of steel stacks, while the front is divided into a lecture hall, and a reading room in connection with the library.

The four Departments of the Academy through which its work is accomplished are the Library, the Museum, the Publication Office and the Department of Instruction and Lectures.

The formation of a library was one of the first subjects to engage attention. At the initial meeting a committee, consisting of Dr. Troost and Mr. Shinn, was appointed to consider "which are the fittest periodical works to engage at first instance for the accommodation of the society."

No report seems to have been received from this, the first Library Committee, but under date of March 17, 1812, a memorandum records that "Mr. Shinn will accommodate the society with the Mineralogical Journal of Dr. Bruce; Mr. Parmentier, the Aurora and a map of Switzerland; Dr. Mann, the Monthly Magazine for 1807. Dr. Troost and Mr. Parmentier have engaged for