Advancement

Pineapple - Maria Sibylla Merian "Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium"What distinguishes a room full of seemingly unrelated treasures from an exhibition that explains their historical and cultural connections? Who decides which objects should be exhibited and where to display them? Where do the curators find the information they need to make the exhibits come alive for visitors of all ages and from all walks of life? Smithsonian curators and researchers rely on the libraries to provide the information needed to study, interpret and preserve the national collections of artifacts and specimens.

The Smithsonian Libraries comprise twenty-one branch libraries that constitute the world's largest museum library system, working together to make its vast collections accessible in person and online to researchers, scholars and the general public. Your support is vital to strengthening the Libraries' capacity to serve scholars, curators and the public. Please consider making a gift in support of the Smithsonian Libraries. Thank you!

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