Page:Library Administration, 1898.djvu/83

 The supply of " copyright copies " to libraries in Germany is in a peculiar state, resulting from the constitution of the Empire. Each State is free, by a law of 1874 (May 7th), to make its own arrangements in the matter, while no provision is made for any supply of the complete output to any central library. This defect is aggravated by the varying legislation of the States. Thus in Saxony there is no compulsory delivery, whereby the books appearing at Leipzig, the chief library centre of the Empire, altogether escape. In Prussia, maps are not subject to delivery unless bearing some portion, however small, of printed text. Numerous small German States, e.g. Baden, Mecklenburg, and Brunswick, have not legislated in the matter. In Bavaria an additional burden is laid on publishers of books dealing with the history of drawing, which have to be supplied in duplicate, one copy for the Royal Library at Munich, another for the Kupferstich-kabinet. Similarly, two copies of musical publications are required, one for the Royal Library, another for the library of the Conservatorium. The difficulties occasioned by a Federal form of government are not insurmountable, and Germany might well follow the example of the United States, where "compulsory copies" (two) are sent to the Library of Congress at Washington. The German Empire unfortunately lacks a real capital. Berlin hardly counts,' for the South German publishers would doubtless object to be taxed to enrich a Prussian library. For similar reasons a project for creating an Imperial library at Leipzig, Frankfort,