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The Prospectus represents a summary of the areas that will be given priority and emphasis for the next five years.  It should be read in conjunction with another publication, the [[underlined]] Smithsonian Institution's Programs and Activities [[/underlined]], which provides background information on the programs of each of the Institution's operating activities.  The content presented here is arranged by the major organization grouping of the Institution and corresponds to the assembly of the FY 1982 budget which will be presented to the Congress; i.e., Science, History and Art, Public Service, and Museum Programs, with separate sections treating Special Programs, Associate Programs, Business Management Activities, and administrative and facilities development plans.  Several items discussed the text, along with the financial figures for FY 1982, complement the Institution's budge submission to Congress, and also appear in that document.

[[underlined]] The Prospectus for FY 1982-86 [[/underlined]] reflects needs and opportunities that the Smithsonian has described before.  One new proposal has been incorporated since the second issue, the Major Collections Acquisition Program, which is to be federally supported and intended to supplement the trust funded acquisition activities.  The Prospectus also incorporates a planned extension of Native American programs, which calls for major additional funding for development of new exhibitions on American Indians in the Museums of Natural History and History and Technology beginning in FY 1982, and for the potential transfer and care of a large and important collection to the Institution.  Federal funds for transfer, storage, and care may be sought beginning in FY 1983.  Also included in this Prospectus and in the FY 1982 federal budget submission are funds for reestablishing the Research Awards Program, for which appropriations were not granted by Congress in FY 1980 or FY 1981, and a special one-time FY 1982 request for enough funds to purchase needed photocopying equipment in various bureaus of the Institution.  The Institution is currently leasing such equipment, and has determined that there are substantial cost savings which could be realized over time from owning and managing its own machines.  All of these planned efforts appear in the Special Programs chapter.

The Prospectus emphasizes selected aspects of the Institution's work while assuring that others will continue at approximately the present level of activity.  Areas of emphasis and priority include collections management, basic research, exhibition programs, administration and technical support, and the maintenance and development of current and new facilities for ongoing programs and those of the future.

A refinement of costs (consisting of some additional expenses related to transfer, moving, and care of collections) associated with operating the Museum Support Center, which is planned to open in early FY 1983, has occurred over the course of the year and these costs are highlighted in a special table, Table 13.  FY 1982 equipment requirements, along with future year needs through FY 1982 equipment requirements, along with future year needs through FY 1986, are consolidated in the Special Programs chapter.  Operating cost requirements, as known at this time, are contained within the program descriptions of the involved units, i.e., the Conservation Analytical Laboratory, Office of Horticulture, Libraries, Protection Services, and Plant Services.