As regards:

" In the limited experiments we have done with public access
to collections via computer, the response has been so
positive that I am encouraged to think that people do in
fact care about the richness of collections and would care
more if they knew more.  We've had the same experience as
the Field regarding the discrepancy between positive
response to the experience of collection access and an
inability to imagine any benefit in the theoretical
environment of a focus group.  I'd be very curious to know
what others think on the topic."  (Deborah Cooper, 11/18/96)

It's my observation that when visitors inquire about
collections items in historical museums and are provided
access, they are enchanted with the opportunity to explore
the community's "attic."  We could easily spend all our
staff time touring the public through our collections, but
that would mean we wouldn't get any exhibits done, programs
developed, etc.  Tours through secure and environmentally
controlled spaces run counter to our training on collections
management.  Open storage or the inclusion of drawers with
more artifacts to look at in long term exhibits are the
things we're exploring.

It seems to me the public views libraries as accessible
because they expect to go there and have information
provided, but are afraid to ask in museums.  We need to be
more approachable, perhaps.  We're a public (government)
facility, so we're particularly concerned about this.  Let
me tell your focus group about the "neat stuff" we've got in
our collections, and they'll see the benefit - I'm inspired,
and they can be too.

Chris Dill

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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
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Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
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