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USERS
GUIDE
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/
- 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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