A recent newspaper article outlined the Smithsonian's intent to loan out
objects, on a "semi-permanent" (registrars well cringe at the
terminology!) to appropriate museums.  The loans could be as much as 25
years, with no rental fee.  The intent is to cut storage costs.
My boss wishes me to find out if there is any good stuff there for a
western Massachusetts museum of history and art.  I tried the (impressive)
Smithsonian's web site in hopes of finding a catalog of objects - in vain
(I didn't really expect success - if my museum hasn't put its 15,000
objects on-line,  it's a bit much to expect SI to make its 141 million
objects available.)
Long question short: any tips on finding the good stuff, short of
pestering SI curators?
Will Garrison
Collections Manager
Historic Deerfield, Inc.