The discussion on the definition of museum, started by
Gery Edson on september 18th, has seen the
partecipation of  50 among ICOM members: they have
sent around more than one hundred email messages.
The topic of discussion is extremely important and I
do not believe that a solution to this matter can be
found easily, as I do not believe that we can achieve
a new definition of museum through a discussion taking
place only via email and only in English.
Moreover all the members who have not subscribed ICOM
List have been excluded by the discussion, as well all
those members who have not access to the internet and
email, and all those members who are not fluent in
English.
I believe that, once the discussion via email has
ended, the Secreteriat (through its personnel or
perhaps throght stagiaires) should prepare a summary
of the discussion via email and should translate it
into the three official languages in order to
circulate it to all ICOM members via ordinary mail or via ICOM News.
All this should be
accomplished so that the new definition of museum can
be adopted during the General Conferenc with wide
approval.

I also believe that these procedures (summary,
translation and circulation or publication) should be adopted by the
Secretariat for all the email discussions consisting
on a certain amount of messages and concerning crucial
topics for the life of the organization (for ex. a
possible discussion on the Statutes and on the Code of
Ethics).

Giovanni Pinna

-- Giovanni Pinna -----------------------
e-mail:     [log in to unmask]
web page:   http://giovanni.pinna.cx
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