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 The
Smithsonian Institution Libraries (SIL) contributes to the Institution's
mission "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge"
through its service to the Smithsonian in support of research, exhibitions,
education programs, publishing, and the administration of the Institution.
In addition, the Libraries serves the scholarly community and the
public.
Collections,
Resources and Services:
- collections
include: 1.5 million volumes, of which 40,000 are rare books,
2,000 manuscripts, 180,000 microfilm and microfiche, 300,000 commercial
trade catalogs, representing more than 30,000 companies, dating
form the mid-1800s (the nation's largest collection)
- online
catalog on the Internet at http://www.siris.si.edu
or telnet://siris.si.edu
- Libraries'
Home Page offers specialized reference information at http://www.sil.si.edu/
- access
to national databases and information networks
Services
offered:
- 20
branches located throughout the Smithsonian, on and off the National
Mall
- reference
services and interlibrary loan
- participate
in reciprocal borrowing programs of OCLC
and CIRLA
(the Chesapeake Information and Research Library Alliance)
Professional
affiliations:
- Association
of Research Libraries, composed of 119 of the largest research
libraries in North America
- CIRLA
- Chesapeake Information and Research Library Alliance
- IFLA
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
- FLICC
- Federal Library and Information Center Committee, Federal Library
Information Network
- RLG-
Research Libraries Group
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