TABLE OF CONTENTS Director's View Staff and Associates Administration National Collections Program Institutional History Division Technical Services Division Archives Division Remote Off-Site Storage Project Holdings Use Outreach and Public Programs Professional Activities Appendixes A. SIA Organizational Chart for FY 1999 B. Volume of Holdings Summary C. Chart of Volume Growth D. Sources of Holdings E. Records Center Services F. Reference Service Statistics G. "Research in Progress" Lecture Series H. Publications of SIA Staff and Associates I. Publications Using SIA Holdings List of Abbreviations

The National Collections Program (NCP) promotes Institutional accountability for the national collections through the development of collections management standards in policy and procedures, and through information exchange. The office maintains oversight of and administrative responsibility for the principal directive guiding Smithsonian collections management, SD 600: Collections Management Policy. In direct support of the Smithsonian strategic objective to keep policies current for the management of collections, the National Collections Program coordinated the issuance of "Smithsonian Collections Management Guidelines" as part of the continued revision of Smithsonian Directive 600. The Guidelines, approved by the Board of Regents and issued by the Secretary in May, 1999, provides direction and oversight for the establishment and maintenance of Smithsonian collections management policies. As the Institution's umbrella statement on collections management, the Guidelines establish general policies and lay the foundation for the requirements set forth in SD 600. The first of three documents to emerge from the SD 600 revision process, the Guidelines will be followed by a revised directive and newly developed implementation manual. This tripartite approach which separates policy mandate from guidance will provide greater clarity, improve implementation, and strengthen Smithsonian collections management. NCP staff compiled and published the Institution's annual collection statistical report, which provides information on collection size, growth, and activity for Smithsonian museums, archives, and libraries. In addition, the office prepared a number of annual reports highlighting various aspects of Smithsonian collections management: a summary report for the Provost of unit collections management assessments that identifies collecting unit needs, achievements, and concerns; a report on deaccessioning for the Secretary and Board of Regents; and FY 1999 collection disclosure information for the Smithsonian financial statement and external audit. In June, the Provost approved transfer of the responsibility for production of the Smithsonian Annals from the Smithsonian Press to the National Collections Program. The Annals is a sister publication of the Smithsonian Institution Year, and provides greater detail on the annual activities of Smithsonian museums, offices, and research institutes. Compilation of the 1997 and 1998 Annals began during this fiscal year. Next || Previous Smithsonian Institution Archives || Archives Division Institutional History Division || Joseph Henry Papers Project National Collection Program