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[[underlined]] The Smithsonian Experience Books[[/underlined]]

The Secretary reported that at the meeting of September 27, 1977, the Board of Regents ratified action taken to develop a general interest book entitled [[underlined]] The Smithsonian Experience.[[/underlined]] The book was published soon thereafter, and about 135,750 orders were received by December 12. The high rate of orders, coupled with a low rate of returning books and very brisk sales in museum shops and Washington area book stores, indicates a conservatively projected net return now 30% higher than originally projected (original projection was $1 million). A further promotional mailing to about 1.5 million Associates and roughly 680,000 addressees from outside lists is being prepared for January 16, 1978.

In September the Regents also authorized the Secretary to proceed with the program of publishing books on topics closely related to Smithsonian interests for the general readership, subject to review at subsequent meetings. We have continued to explore the three potential broad topics indicated at the last Regents' meeting, namely, "Invention," "The American Land," and "Time." As a result a single one of these books as authorized, now tentatively titled [[underlined]] A Flash of Genius: The Smithsonian Book of Invention and Innovation,[[/underlined]] seems highly feasible, with many Smithsonian scholars ready and willing to contribute, and emerges as the most ideally suited major book for 1978. We will do a limited test mailing of the [[underlined]]Invention[[/underlined]] book in March to test alternative titles and general readership interest, and with the concurrence of the Regents will conduct a fuller test later