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Decisions regarding such loans are the responsibility of the bureau director, who may at his or her discretion refer the matter to the Secretary for final decision in cases in which there may appear to be a broader Institutional policy consideration.  Decisions made will be compatible with accepted museum community standards as well as additional obligations resulting from the responsibilities of the Institution as chief custodian of the national treasures.

After discussion it was agreed that the Secretary should use the foregoing statement to represent the general position of the Institution.

Mr. Adams reported that the National Science Resources Center, the joint enterprise of the Smithsonian and the National Academy of Sciences for the improvement of science and math education in secondary schools, has submitted a major proposal for funding to the National Science Foundation.  A response on that application should be forthcoming in about six months.  Mr. Adams also alluded to the possibility of solving the Center's space needs through the benevolence of a donor's purchase of the Capitol hill buildings of the National Museum of African Art and subsequent donation of the properties to the National Academy for the use of the Center (excepting, in all probability, the Frederick Douglass house).

Discussing a variety of other matters, Mr. Adams reminded the Regents about the devastating earthquakes in Mexico last September and reported that he had offered the assistance of Smithsonian expertise to the Mexicans in their efforts to restore cultural artifacts and works of art; while a recent letter from the Mexican Embassy requests financial aid, Mr. Adams said he would reiterate the offer to lend expertise but would not be able to contribute Smithsonian funds.  The Secretary also reported that he had joined the board of governors of a consortium of institutions organized to explore the possibility of recovering a second Egyptian solar boat that now seems to be buried alongside the area where the first such boat was discovered; the hope is to use this as an opportunity for more complete recovery of various kinds of material than has been possible in the past, beginning with the recovery of a sealed atmospheric sample which would be of great scientific importance.  Finally, Mr. Adams noted that [[underlined]] Air & Space [[/underlined]] magazine is projecting it will have approximately 290,000 paid subscriptions in advance of the distribution of the first issue.

[[underlined]] Financial Report [[/underlined]]

Miss Leven and Mr. Jameson highlighted the following report, noting at this meeting that the Regents were being asked to approve an increase in NASM theater ticket prices to $1.00 for children and $2.00 for adults, with small increases to charges for special events.