Encyclopedia Smithsonian offers a single destination for the diverse resources found within the webpages of the 19 different museums and the National Zoo which comprise the Smithsonian Institution. This includes resources from the Smithsonian including material from the African American History and Culture Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, American Art Museum, the National Zoo, and the other museums of the Smithsonian Institution. These resources are geared toward the general public and are appropriate for users of all age ranges. The date content was created varies with each resource. Because of the nature of the resources, currency is not a major issue.
This site is divided into a number of categories to allow for users to browse the different collections of resources. The main categories are: Art & Design, Science & Technology, History & Culture, and Kids' Favorites. Other navigation for browsing the collections include: Mysteries of the Universe, A Biodiverse Planet, World Cultures, and the American Experience. In addition to these categories for browsing, users can employ a single search box to quickly search for specific information. A noted limitation here was that more complex searches did not produce the desired results. Other ways to navigate the content found throughout the site are through topic-based limits and resource type limits. The resource type limit offers the ability for users to quickly limit their searches to specific resources such as: Fact Sheets, Reading Lists, Teacher Resources, Videos, Activities & Games, or other categories. The topic limit also offers a quick way to navigate the large collections of content found in this resource. Topics vary based on the wide-range of content that is found through the diverse museums of the Smithsonian. While there is a specific section for users to browse entitled Kids' Favorites, the resources under this category were not unique. These were the same links that were found under the other relevant browsing headings.
While the links found under the Encyclopedia Smithsonian heading do not lead to unique content for this source, its value is found in the navigation and search interface. The search interface allows users to find specific documents or resources, while the ability to browse allows users the option to explore the range of content found under a distinct category heading, topic, or resource type. Users can quickly find information about the American Revolutionary War, which includes a letter from George Washington. Users can also find information related to America's space programme, including a number of online exhibits.
Encyclopedia Smithsonian is an exceptional resource to find all the hidden treasures in the 19 museums and the National Zoo which comprise the Smithsonian Institution.
