Among the buzz words of the 90s being bandied about is the term community
development. It seems to be used differently depending on the organization
that's doing the "developing" and the community that is being "developed".

More and more, museums are claiming their role in community development
though it seems to me that neighbourhood museums were doing these things
before this term became common. I this really a new way of talking about
eco-museums? Or is it just a trendy way of describing community-based public
programming? Where has the term come from? Is there a generally accepted
definition of the term or is it as fluid as it appears to me?

Happy October 1.

Elizabeth Kidd
Vancouver, B.C.