14 ANNUAL REPORT SR-IITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 64 



By the end of this year all Federal agencies with significant research 

 programs were participating in some degree in the S.I.E, program. 

 About 90-95 percent of all Government research in life sciences and 

 social sciences is being registered. In general, the physical sciences 

 collection has grown slowly, but some fields now are approaching fairly 

 comprehensive proportions. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 records 

 dealing mostly with applied research in physical sciences are still to be 

 registered. Interest among non-Government agencies, universities, 

 foundations, national fund-raising agencies, industry, State and city 

 research agencies, has been growing substantially even though S.I.E. 

 has concentrated its efforts in the past on Federal agency participa- 

 tion. Closer cooperation with non-Government agencies may be antic- 

 ipated as the Federal collections approach comprehensive proportions. 



To determine if S.I.E. does, in fact, fulfill its mission and effectively 

 achieve its objectives, a questionnaire was sent to 600 scientists who 

 have used the Exchange services. From their response, it was evident 

 that over 95 percent received information concerning new research 

 they did not know about, even in their own specialty fields. The 

 majority used the information to keep up with latest developments and 

 to avoid duplication in formulating new projects and research pro- 

 posals. Over YO percent affirmed good scientific quality, comprehen- 

 sive coverage, and no irrelevant material. Over 60 percent indicated 

 their interest and endorsement by volunteering comments and sug- 

 gestions. Although the purpose of the questionnaire was primarily 

 as guidance for S.I.E., this practical field test of an actual operating 

 system and its products seems to offer objective and concrete 

 evidence that this kind of information service on current research is 

 needed and is acceptable to the research scientists for whom it was 

 designed. 



SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM SERVICE 



The Smithsonian Museum Service, through appropriate educational 

 media, interprets to museum visitors and to the general public the 

 objects, specimens, and exhibits in the several Smithsonian museums 

 and develops interpretative and educational programs relating to the 

 work of the Institution in tlie fields of science, history, and art. The 

 Museimi Service also cooperates with the volunteers of the Junior 

 League of Washington, D.C., who conduct the Junior League Guided 

 Tour Program at the Smithsonian. A more complete report of this 

 activity, directed by G. Carroll Lindsay, curator, with the assistance 

 of Mrs. Nella Lloyd, visitor services assistant, is carried in the report 

 on the U.S. National Museum (pp. 65-66) . 



In addition, the Museum Service acts to coordinate special events 

 and ceremonial activities involving the Smithsonian museimis and out- 

 side organizations. 



