S caff development and recognition were a focus in several 

 Smithsonian units this year. The third annual Secretary's 

 Award for Excellence in Equal Opportunity Program, 

 cosponsored by the Office of Equal Employment and Minority 

 Affairs and the Secretary's office, recognized four employees 

 for their outstanding contributions. The Unsung Heroes 

 awards, which began in the 150th anniversary year and 

 continued through December 1996, honored Smithsonian 

 employees nominated by their colleagues for exemplary 

 service. The program was coordinated by the Ombudsman. 

 Other offices provided vital internal support. The Office of 

 the Comptroller, for example, guided the new Smithsonian 

 Financial System general ledger and financial reporting 

 system through its first year. The Office of Human Resources 

 held its first open house, designed to inform employees about 

 the services available to them. 



The Office of Physical Plant worked on five major 

 expansion initiatives this year. Inside the courtyards at the 

 National Museum of Natural History, two major projects are 

 under way. The East Court Building will provide expanded 

 staff office space, a Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, a 

 rare book library, public restrooms, and collections space. The 

 museum's new Discovery Center/West Court Building will 

 feature a Discovery Room, a large-format movie theater, and a 

 restaurant. This year, the Office of Risk and Asset 

 Management began the process of obtaining approval for $40 

 million in tax-exempt financing for the project. 



Construction progressed on the National Museum of the 

 American Indian's Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, 

 Maryland, set to open in fall 1998. Design of the Mall 

 museum advanced to the construction documents phase, based 

 on schematic design approvals from the Commission of Fine 

 Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission early in 

 the year. The design of the National Air and Space Museum's 

 Dulles Center is also moving ahead. 



Several major projects led the way for Smithsonian repairs 

 and renovations to existing buildings. Design fee negotiations 

 are under way to renovate the Arts and Industries Building to 

 renew offices, exhibit halls, child care facilities, and other 

 spaces. Design was completed on two projects: accessibility 

 improvements and a new roof for the National Museum of 

 American Art and the National Portrait Gallery and skylight 

 and window wall replacements for the National Air and Space 

 Museum. At the National Museum of Natural History, 

 mechanical renovations continued on the upper floors. 



The Office of Contracting and Property Management 

 continued to provide contractual support for "America's 

 Smithsonian" and for media and entertainment projects 

 developed through a relationship with a Hollywood agent, 

 Creative Artists Agency. The office awarded several 

 multimillion-dollar contracts, including those to build the 

 National Museum of the American Indian's Cultural 

 Resources Center and the Discovery Center at the National 

 Museum of Natural History. In addition to providing 

 operational support for information systems throughout the 



Institution, the Office of Information Technology began a 

 three-phase process of upgrading SINET, the Smithsonian's 

 internal data communications network. This year, several 

 buildings were wired or recabled, some network software and 

 electronics were upgraded, and MCI was selected as the new 

 Internet service provider. The Office of Imaging, Printing, 

 and Photographic Services added tens of thousands of 

 photographs of Smithsonian artifacts and special events to its 

 already large collection. Many of these images will be 

 digitized for public Internet access and internal use as part of 

 the large-scale project to digitize Smithsonian collections. 



As the fanfare of the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary 

 subsided, we returned to business as usual this year. But the 

 Institution's "business" — its mission of increasing and 

 diffusing knowledge — is hardly "usual." The Smithsonian is 

 for everyone, from the second-grader to the distinguished 

 scholar. 



That is a far-reaching mandate, and fulfilling it requires a 

 multiplicity of skills and talents. At the Smithsonian, we are 

 fortunate to have staff who are dedicated to our mission and 

 committed to excellence. Thanks to their collaborative efforts, 

 this unique center for education, research, and enjoyment 

 continues its tradition of outstanding public service. 



The Smithsonian Card 



Consumers who use the Smithsonian Card from NOVUS 

 Services, Inc., are assisting Smithsonian programs in research, 

 exhibitions, collections, and education. A percentage of each 

 purchase made with the Smithsonian Card goes to the 

 Institution. NOVUS Services also makes a donation each time 

 a Smithsonian Card is issued or renewed. NOVUS Services is 

 promoting the Smithsonian Card through a national 

 marketing effort. In addition to showing their support for the 

 Smithsonian, Card members earn points toward U.S. Series 

 EE Savings Bonds when they make purchases with the 

 Smithsonian Card. The relationship with NOVUS Services 

 grew out of the Smithsonian's partnership with Discover 

 Card, a business unit of NOVUS Services and the first partner 

 of the 150th Anniversary Corporate Partner Program. 



Discovery Theater Turns 20 



For young people from all over the Washington, D.C., area, 

 a trip to Discovery Theater is a memorable treat. Over the 

 years, Discovery Theater has presented original productions, 

 contemporary and traditional live puppetry, theatrical 

 performances, dance, storytelling, and musicals — all designed 

 to entertain, educate, and enlighten young audiences. As one 

 of its twentieth-anniversary-season productions, Discovery 

 Theater commissioned a theatrical piece in collaboration with 

 the Education Department of the National Museum of 

 African Art, based on che life of King Asantehene Agyeman 

 Prempeh I, ruler of the Asante nation from 1888 to 1896. 



Performances coincided with the exhibition of King 

 Prempeh's adinkra cloth at the museum. School groups 



12 



