Here's a thought that would help address burn-out and the scholarship
issue....

Why don't museums offer their staff members sabbaticals?

Benefits the individual - a chance to get revitalized, spend time
researching an area of interest

Benefits the institution - don't lose a valued staff member, will
benefit from injection of fresh energy and knowledge.

Benefits the profession - provides an avenue for individuals to
pursue and complete scholarly activities, ones that may not have
direct relevance to an individual institution, but benefit the
profession at large.

Yes, its highly unlikely that the majority of museums could afford to
pay a staff member the full salary to take time away from the
institution.  But what about negotiating partial salary, with the
balance being used to hire contract employees for those parts of the
job that absolutely can not be delayed?

Many professional societies develop funding for grants to support
research.  Would this not be an appropriate activity for AAM?  That
is to develop a competitive funding program to support research
in the field of museum studies?


Paisley S. Cato
Cato
32365 Corte Zamora
Temecula, CA 92592
909-676-6721
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