MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY

Library Committee

Chairman: Frederick W. Brune, Chief Judge Court of

Appeals

Stephen R. Coiling, Associate Judge Court of Appeals
William L. Henderson, Associate Judge Court of Appeals

Louise E. Couper, State Librarian, 1989

Nelson J. Molter, Director

Court of Appeals Building, Annapolis Telephone: Colonial 3-4401

The State Library was established by an Act of the General As-
sembly (Acts 1826, Ch. 53),

The Library Committee, which is composed of at least three mem-
bers appointed by the Judges of the Court of Appeals, exercises
general supervision over the Library and appoints the Director and
other employees; except the State Librarian, who is appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate to serve for the
term of the Governor.

The Library consists of a legal section of approximately seventy-two
thousand (72,000) volumes, and a reference section of approximately
forty-eight thousand (48,000) volumes. The reference section contains
many rare books, maps, and documents, including the subscription edi-
tion of the four elephant folio volumes of Audubon's Birds of Amer-
ica, the most complete file now in existence of the early issues (1745-
1838) of the Maryland Gazette, bound volumes and microfilm copies
of the Baltimore Sunpapers from 1837 to date, as well as other early
newspapers and periodicals. In addition, the Library possesses an
almost complete set of the United States Documents, serial number
series, dating back to the Continental Congress.

The Law Library, which contains all State, Federal, and many
foreign court reports, session laws, codes, legal texts, compendiums,
legal periodicals, and other legal reference material, is an integral
part of the operation of the Court of Appeals of Maryland and
furnishes legal, reference, and research material and facilities to the
Court, Judges, Lawyers, State Departments and officials, and the
general public. The Library is designated as a U.S. Depository
Library. All State officials and agencies are required by law to
place one copy of all of their reports and other publications in the
Library. The Library is the distributing agency for the session
laws, journals, Maryland reports, and the annotated code of Maryland.

Appropriations
General Funds

Appropriations 1957 1958
Operation of Library...........$30,651 $31,286
Md. Reports & Code Supp.. 5,400 *

Total ....................$36,051 $31,286

*Appropriations for Md. Reports transferred to Court of Appeals
and funds for the purchase of the Code to be provided by the Board
of Public Works.

COMMISSIONER OF THE LAND OFFICE

Harry L. Harcum, Commissioner, 1959
Malcolm W. Waring, Administrative Assistant
Hall of Records, Annapolis Telephone: Colonial 3-3451