Smithsonian Libraries Overview

Smithsonian Libraries Connecting. Ideas. Information. You. May 14, 2008

Smithsonian Smithsonian Institution LibrariesInstitution Libraries

A SnapshotA Snapshot

May 14, 2008May 14, 2008

Connecting. Ideas. Information. You.Smithsonian Libraries May 14, 2008

MissionMission

As the largest and most diverse museum library in the world, SIL leads the Smithsonian in taking advantage of the opportunities of the digital society. SIL provides authoritative information and creates innovative services and programs for Smithsonian Institution researchers, scholars and curators, as well as the general public, to further their quest for knowledge. Through paper preservation and digital technologies, SIL ensures broad and enduring access to the Libraries’ collections for all users.


SIL-A Distributed NetworkSIL-A Distributed Network 20 libraries in museums and research 20 libraries in museums and research

centers in Washington, DC; Edgewater and centers in Washington, DC; Edgewater and Suitland, MD; New York City; & Republic of Suitland, MD; New York City; & Republic of Panama, supported by Central Services:Panama, supported by Central Services:

AcquisitionsAcquisitionsCatalogingCatalogingNew Media Office and PreservationNew Media Office and PreservationInterlibrary loanInterlibrary loanDirector’s office/AdministrationDirector’s office/AdministrationDevelopmentDevelopment

109 Staff (down from 130 in 1997)109 Staff (down from 130 in 1997)


SIL– the CollectionsSIL– the Collections

1.5 million volumes1.5 million volumes 4,522 active print journal 4,522 active print journal

subscriptionssubscriptions 3,000 electronic journals3,000 electronic journals 190,000 microforms190,000 microforms 2,500 digital volumes2,500 digital volumes


Special CollectionsSpecial Collections

50,000 Rare Books and 50,000 Rare Books and ManuscriptsManuscripts



World’s Fairs and ExpositionsWorld’s Fairs and Expositions



Historical Trade LiteratureHistorical Trade Literature


Who Are We Serving?Who Are We Serving? Smithsonian scientists, curators, historians, Smithsonian scientists, curators, historians,

researchersresearchers Visiting fellows, graduate students, Visiting fellows, graduate students,

scholars, internsscholars, interns Students in affiliated academic programsStudents in affiliated academic programs Smithsonian educators and exhibition staffSmithsonian educators and exhibition staff Smithsonian management, docents, Smithsonian management, docents,

volunteersvolunteers Researchers world-wide and general publicResearchers world-wide and general public


How Are We Serving?How Are We Serving?

Direct access to physical collections Direct access to physical collections through up-to-date online catalog and through up-to-date online catalog and well-maintained stacks, scan & deliverwell-maintained stacks, scan & deliver

Interlibrary loan (5,822 items borrowed)Interlibrary loan (5,822 items borrowed) Exchange and Gift (3,763 exchange Exchange and Gift (3,763 exchange

partners)partners)

With Print Collections…With Print Collections…


Library SpacesLibrary Spaces

National Air and Space Museum

Anacostia


Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum

SmithsonianEnvironmentalResearchCenter


National Museumof AmericanIndian

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute


With knowledgeable staff…With knowledgeable staff…

A Philadelphian A Philadelphian called seeking called seeking assistance on a assistance on a presentation she had presentation she had been invited to make been invited to make on African women on African women artists during the artists during the inter-war years.inter-war years.

(who answered 43,500 reference queries in 2007)(who answered 43,500 reference queries in 2007)


Recent press reports about super-massive black holes caused a number of queries about the nature of black holes, how they are detected, how they effect us, and how long does one last, whether two or more can merge and what happens if they do.


For a curator’s research on the use of sugar in the United States and the sugar industry, we found an online copy of an 1890 cartoon on the business “trusts,” originally published in the “Rural New Yorker” magazine research.


SIL assisted a couple from New Mexico with their historical research on a territorial post office built in 1873 on the outskirts of Albuquerque.

Staff provided support for STRI’s Legal Office by doing several searches on the topic of open pit mining.


SIL Staff Also Teach & TrainSIL Staff Also Teach & Train

Seminar on natural history illustration

Explaining the value of trade literature


How Do We Care for How Do We Care for Collections?Collections?

Good shelving, housing practicesGood shelving, housing practices Environmental controlled vaultsEnvironmental controlled vaults Environmental monitoringEnvironmental monitoring Disaster planning & managementDisaster planning & management BindingBinding RepairRepair ConservationConservation


Book Conservation Book Conservation LaboratoryLaboratory


How Do We Serve the How Do We Serve the Public?Public?

Public ProgramsPublic Programs EducationEducation The WebThe Web


SIL’s Public ProgramsSIL’s Public Programs

SIL Gallery ExhibitionsSIL Gallery Exhibitions Dibner Library LectureDibner Library Lecture PublicationsPublications Resident Scholar ProgramResident Scholar Program Traveling exhibitionTraveling exhibition Behind-the-scenes ToursBehind-the-scenes Tours Galaxy of Knowledge Galaxy of Knowledge

Website (211,584 images)Website (211,584 images)


Digital Imaging CenterDigital Imaging Center


Sharing InformationSharing Information

Web-based DatabasesWeb-based Databases– Trade Literature Trade Literature

InventoryInventory– Postal Museum Vertical Postal Museum Vertical

FilesFiles– Art and Artist FilesArt and Artist Files


Sharing CollectionsSharing Collections

Online ExhibitionsOnline Exhibitions– Doodles, Drafts and Designs (2004)Doodles, Drafts and Designs (2004)

Digital BooksDigital Books– The Avifauna of LaysanThe Avifauna of Laysan (1893-1900) by (1893-1900) by

Walter Rothschild Walter Rothschild Distinctive CollectionsDistinctive Collections

– Sewing Machines: Trade LiteratureSewing Machines: Trade Literature


Online ExhibitionsOnline Exhibitions

USA Today “Hot Site: January 13, 2005”. USA Today “Hot Site: January 13, 2005”. “this site will knock your socks off.”“this site will knock your socks off.”


Digital BooksDigital Books


Digital BooksDigital Books

“Aloha. I live on The Big Island of Hawai'i, a $300.00 plane ride away from Honolulu and the Bishop Museum. Even when I can make it to the Museum (where I study the Hawaiian Bird Skins), they do not have every single bird (moho apicalis, the Oahu moho is missing)….I have been looking for this text for over TWENTY YEARS. Mahalo nui loa for all your hard work.”


Distinctive CollectionsDistinctive Collections

““Obviously I am spending Obviously I am spending TOOOOO much time in TOOOOO much time in your terrific collection.” your terrific collection.”


Smithsonian Libraries Smithsonian Libraries WebsitesWebsites

4 websites4 websites– Galaxy of KnowledgeGalaxy of Knowledge– Tools for the ResearcherTools for the Researcher– Smithsonian Digital Repository (SDR)Smithsonian Digital Repository (SDR)– Smithsonian Libraries’ BlogSmithsonian Libraries’ Blog


Smithsonian Libraries Web Smithsonian Libraries Web StatsStats

Usage Statistics Usage Statistics – 3.5-4 million hits per month3.5-4 million hits per month– 350-450,000 visitor sessions per 350-450,000 visitor sessions per

monthmonth– 80% of users are non-Smithsonian80% of users are non-Smithsonian– ~ 27% growth in use each year~ 27% growth in use each year


New RolesNew Roles

Data CurationData Curation PublishingPublishing Leadership in international Leadership in international

projectsprojects


Data CurationData Curation

Smithsonian Research Smithsonian Research BibliographyBibliography

Smithsonian Digital RepositorySmithsonian Digital Repository


PublishingPublishing

Electronic Publisher Electronic Publisher for the Smithsonian for the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Institution Scholarly PressPress

Sources and Critical Sources and Critical InterpretationsInterpretations– Stirling Expedition Stirling Expedition

ProjectProject


Leadership in International Leadership in International ProjectsProjects

The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL is the largest collaboration yet undertaken by Smithsonian Libraries.

• SIL Serves as the Secretariat • Hosts the BHL Program Director


American Museum of Natural History (New York)

Field Museum (Chicago)

Natural History Museum (London)

Smithsonian Institution Libraries (Washington)

Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis)

New York Botanical Garden (New York)

Royal Botanic Garden, Kew

Botany Libraries, Harvard University

Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

Marine Biological Laboratory / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Biodiversity Heritage Biodiversity Heritage LibraryLibrary

Smithsonian Libraries Connecting. Ideas. Information. You. May 14, 2008

SIL’s Inflation SIL’s Inflation ChallengeChallenge


SIL’s Inflation ChallengeSIL’s Inflation Challenge In 1984, spent $385,000 for 5,000 journal In 1984, spent $385,000 for 5,000 journal

subscriptionssubscriptions In 2007 spent $958,290 for 1,948In 2007 spent $958,290 for 1,948 Print journal subscriptions rise every year due to rate Print journal subscriptions rise every year due to rate

increases and fall of dollarincreases and fall of dollar FY09 projection is 10% riseFY09 projection is 10% rise Demand for electronic resources escalating -- Demand for electronic resources escalating --

$468,000 in 2007$468,000 in 2007

“[Electronic access] is crucial, and increasingly, because of the absence of many important journals that have been cut, it is having a very negative effect on my scholarship here at SI.”


“Users universally agree that the library collections are one of three inseparable pillars of superior academic research, alongside staff and collections.

What Users Are SayingWhat Users Are SayingExtracts from User AssessmentsExtracts from User Assessments

“One thing that really makes the library wonderful is the librarian’s expertise in terms of really understanding the discipline and guiding people to things. I go in there and think I’m a great researcher and just talking to the librarian for five minutes I have five more things I wouldn’t have thought of….”

Smithsonian Libraries Overview

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