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In FY 1980 experiments were conducted with telefacsimile transmissions among selected libraries of the Institution, and since 1978 the use of online, commercially available data bases has been expanding. In addition, resource sharing with federal and research libraries, especially with the Library of Congress, has helped to control the need to acquire materials. In 1981, card catalogues will be closed in favor of a computer-output microfiche catalogue (COM). Conversion of older catalogue records into machine-readable form will start in FY 1982.

Plans also include the accommodation of library requirements for new and expanded Smithsonian activities over the coming five-year period. These include establishing library functions at Mt. Hopkins Observatory, the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center at Front Royal, the Museum Support Center, and the Museum of African Art. Expanded programs are planned for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies.

[[underlined]] The National Museum Act. [[/underlined]] Through its grants program, the National Museum Act (NMA) provides support to museums, professional museum associations, and academic institutions for training of museum personnel, special museological studies, and for professional and technical assistance for the museum community.

These grants concentrate on museological issues and high priority is given to projects advancing conservation training and techniques. This emphasis is unlike the grant programs offered by the National Endowments which support, for the most part, art- or humanities-related programs, or those offered by the Institute of Museum Services which provide support for museum operating costs. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Museum Programs and the NMA staff maintain continuing liaison with other organizations and with the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities, all of which are concerned with support for various kinds of museum activity throughout the United States. The NMA continues to operate under the principles established in a memorandum of understanding that was developed with these organizations in 1979. During the past year, the NMA conducted a thorough review of the grant programs that it supported and developed an offering to fill a need for mid-career training through refresher courses for persons involved in museum work.

In 1980, the National Museum Act was reauthorized for FY 1981 and FY 1982. At the end of this period, NMA grant programs, as well as the grant programs of other organizations, will be reviewed by the Congress.

[[underlined]] Other Programs. [[/underlined]] A strong demand continues for the museum training workshops and the conservation audiovisual presentations produced by the Office of Museum Programs. In 1980, at the request of local and regional museum associations and organizations, the Office conducted a number of training programs away from the Smithsonian; in these instances, the local organizations paid all expenses involved. The Office will further explore this type of cooperative arrangement as a means of making museum training accessible to more museum personnel at no cost to the Institution. A review has begun of the library of audiovisual materials, and a number of items may be remade, particularly those for which the master tapes no longer lend themselves to quality reproduction.