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divided into three equal parts to be employed as follows: one part 
in defraying the expenses of the publication of a popular science 
series and standard works of fiction, both Icelandic compositions and 
translations of foreign works; one part in supporting the scientific 
study of the nature of Iceland and in the publication of works dealing 
with the natural history of the country; and one part in purchasing 
works of art for the art collection, and in prizes to those who publish 
drawings of buildings, house furniture and patterns for home industries 
on national lines. The menningarsjéBur is administered by the Mennta- 
malardd Islands (The Promotion of Culture Council) created under 
an act of 1928, and comprising 5 members, all elected by Althingi 
for a term of four years. Besides administering the Menningarsjé8ur 
the Council has been. entrusted with various other duties, as e. g. the 
superintendence of the art collection and the purchase of works of art; 
the distribution of the art budget and scholarships to Icelandic students 
at foreign universities, etc. 
In 1928 an act was passed under which a broadcasting station is 
to be opened at Reykjavik in the course of the present year (1930), 
The station is owned and worked by the State, the expenses defrayed 
from a tax on listeners’ receiving sets. The broadcasting service is 
managed by a Radio Council {titvarpsrad) of five members, elected 
for two years at a time; one (the chairman) being appointed by the 
government; one by the university; one by the synod; one by the 
association of the People’s School teachers, while the listeners’ socie- 
ty, if numerous enough, has an advisory right in the election of the 
fifth member. There is also a government-naid managing director. act- 
ing as executive officer. 
There are also a few societies in Iceland which work for the diffusion 
of general culture and science; they enjoy a financial support from 
the State, but are mainly dependent on subscriptions for their reve- 
nues and must in consequence be founded on a broad basis. The 
subscription rates are comparatively low and the number of subscri- 
bers (many of whom are to be found among the common people) is 
very large in proportion to the population. This shows that culture is 
not the exclusive property of the educated class. but is in no small 
degree shared by the general public. 
The oldest of these societies is: Hid islenzka Békmenntafélag (The 
Icelandic Literary Society), founded in 1816. Besides an annual, con- 
taining short articles on various cultural questions. contributions to dis.