Colleagues: You may have already received this document, but ICOM L apparently did not allow a full distribution due to a filtering process. Therefore, I will try again. There has been an amount of discussion about the following definition: "Museums are permanent institutions that conserve and communicate knowledge of the natural world and the cultural inheritance of humanity through collections, records, memories, images, and sites they care for, research and interpret, in public trust, for present and future generations." Some have suggested an expanded version and other have recommended deletion of words. The discussion appears to be following a very traditional approach to the concept of a museum. Is this a direction ICOM should be going or is it time to take a more farsighted view of museum and museum activities? Regarding the above definition are we creating a situation that will eventually result in a further listing of variables by identifying "collections, records, memories, images, and sites"? Are all those aspects of a museum (except possibly sites) not collections? A recently suggested definition that take an approach that may be considered follows: "A museum is an institution that serves the public interest through education, collaboration, communication, or research about social, cultural, or scientific issues expressed as objects, specimens, or activities." As a word of information: Much of our discussion has been in English, and this is an issue about which I have concern. I will provide French and Spanish translations of parts of this discussion as I can. However, one drawback with the an e-mail is lack of time to allow translations between exchanges. To our French and Spanish speaking colleagues I apologize for this situation and thank you for your understanding. Gary Edson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html