Situated at the center of the world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution Libraries (SIL) forms a vital part of the research, exhibition, and educational enterprise of the Institution. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries unites 20 libraries into one system supported by an online catalog of the combined collections which total approximately 1.5 million printed books and manuscripts.

Today, the Smithsonian Libraries participates in the advancement of science and the arts, just as we have done from the inception of the Institution. Our role vis-à-vis the Institution, the federal government, universities, and the American people has grown, changing to meet the needs of the times. Acting as both public and academic library, as both scholarly resource and general information service, the Libraries offers a galaxy of resources and the help of informed staff to anyone via the Internet or in person.

SIL is part of the Smithsonian Flickr Commons. Please visit us there.