ISO-SWS spectra of galaxies: continuum and features

We present an inventory of mid-infrared spectral features detected in high resolution 2.4 to 45um ISO-SWS spectra of the galaxies M82, NGC253, Circinus, NGC1068, and the 30Doradus region of the LMC. We discuss their identifications and highlight possible relations between these features and the physical state of the interstellar medium in galaxies. In the 5--13 um region, emission from unidentified infrared bands (UIBs), usually ascribed to aromatic molecules, and apparent silicate absorption dominate the spectrum. We demonstrate the danger of overestimating the amount of silicate absorption by comparing the spectrum of M82 to the (absorption free) spectrum of the reflection nebula NGC7023. No strong silicate absorption is present in M82. The (very small grain) dust continuum under the UIB emission in our starburst templates can be modeled by a simple power law, starting at wavelengths between 8 and 9um. The spectra are valuable templates for future mid-infrared missions. We smooth our data to simulate low resolution spectra as obtained with ISOCAM-CVF, ISOPHOT-S, and in the future with the low resolution mode of SIRTF-IRS, and use our high spectral resolution information to highlight possible identification problems at low resolving power that are caused by coincidences of lines and features.