This department has charge of the purchasing of all books and periodicals required in any part of the University. It also looks after the building up of the General Library collection by exchange and gift and the binding of all General Library books and magazines.

On the shelves of its office, on the western side of the main floor, will be found a good working collection of the trade catalogues and national and other bibliographies most used in the identification and ordering of books in English or in the chief languages of continental Europe. Files of recent second hand catalogues are also kept arranged by subject. All these may be used in the Accessions Boom between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. and when it is closed they may be had on call from the Reference Department.

The card records for book orders kept by this department include those outstanding, those in process (that is for books which have been received but may not yet be catalogued), filled orders for the last fifteen years and orders cancelled because books were not obtainable. Separately kept periodical, exchange and gift records show what numbers of any serial were received and their present location in the library.

Copies of all order sheets are filed in binders by department and from them it can readily be shown what books have been received and their cost, as well as those still outstanding and the lien on the fund made on their account. Periodicals and other continuations which form additional yearly liens on book funds are also listed in the order files, so statements of the condition of any General Library book fund can always be furnished on request.

This department has charge of the General Library binding which is done at the University Printing Office, but for periodicals being held for binding call should be made at the Reference Department. Records of those at the bindery are also kept there.

The General Library book fund is distributed by the Library Committee early in the autumn term and full details of the allotment are to be found in the printed report sent regularly to all members of the Academic Senate. Orders for books and subscriptions to new periodicals should be made on the order cards furnished by the library and should be signed by the head of the department or such members as have the authority of the department to do so. They must be filled out with approximately correct date as to place, publisher, and date of publication and should be checked with the catalogue before being handed in. When notification of the receipt of a book is desired both parts of the special double card must be filled out; merely to sign the second half is not sufficient. As a large purchaser the library buys in the cheapest markets and ships by freight, therefore under normal conditions current American books take at least six weeks and European importations four months to reach Berkeley. Cards for books needed at once should be marked “Rush” so that they may be obtained close at hand or secured by express, but it should be noted that anticipation of needs will aid the department book funds, for postage or expressage on rush books is made a part of the cost of such books.

When books are already here or on order the cards will be annotated with the call number, “in process,” or “on order” and returned to the person who asked for them. Additional copies will only be purchased on special request and not more than two copies in all can be bought from General Library funds. Books or magazines for departmental libraries are ordered in the usual way through the library, but must be paid for from the departmental budget, and to avoid misunderstanding the fund should be indicated under the proper heading. Suggestions as to desirable material to be obtained by gift or exchange will always be welcome. Suggestions for purchase of books of general interest should be sent to the Associate Librarian, but material dealing with any subject of instruction or investigation recognized by the University should be brought to the attention of the head of the department most interested.