The World's Columbian Exposition | Edward E. Ayer | Collectors and Collections, Private and Curatorial | Endowed Acquisition Funds | International Publication Exchange The formation of the Library's collections, their rapid growth in the Museum's first decades, and their continuing development are the result of the cooperative endeavors of many organizations and institutions, private donors and collectors, and the Museum's administrators, scientific staff and librarians. The World's Columbian Exposition The creation of the Library's collections commenced in 1894 with initial transfers of books from the libraries of various departments of the World's Columbian Exposition. Edward E. Ayer Instrumental in the founding of the Museum, and serving as its first President, Edward Ayer gave great attention to the Library from the moment it was organized. Collectors and Collections, Private and Curatorial Development of the Library collections has benefited from the presence and generosity of sophisticated bibliographers and dedicated collectors among the Museum's research and other staff. Endowed Acquisition Funds Beginning in the 1970’s a number of donors have established endowments to support the development of the Library’s book collections. International Publication Exchange Since 1895 the Museum’s scientific publications have been sent to nearly 1,000 institutional exchange partners around the world. The Library presently receives about 2,000 journals through the exchange program.