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[[underline]] Museum Support Facilities [[/underline]]

On September 19, 1975 the President signed into law P.L. 94-98 authorizing the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to prepare plans for museum support facilities which will be designed to restore as much Mall building space as possible to public use; provide for the long-range needs of the Institution's collections; and to integrate them and associated work space with activities on the Mall.  The facilities would also incorporate space for on-site research, computer support for documentation, exhibits preparation, registrarial functions, document distribution, conservation, and maintenance support.  $500,000 is being requested in the budget for fiscal year 1977 to initiate architectural and engineering planning for the facilities.

The Smithsonian's activities in the Washington area are concentrated around the Mall, an area dedicated to the use, education and enjoyment of the American public.  These activities, which encompass exhibits, education, collections, conservation, research, and support, fully occupy available Mall space.  Despite deliberate and selective acquisition policies, the national collections of specimens and artifacts continue to grow and to compete for space on the Mall with the public functions of the Institution.

Availability of the collections for study and exhibition requires documentation and preservation, activities which also