At 07:27 AM 11/21/97 -0600, you wrote:
>As a newly elected president of a small rural area museum board,  I need the
>most basic information on museum administration.  Does anyone have a
>reference to recommend?
>
>TIA,
>Stan Gordon, Pres.
>Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and Tourist Center
>Walnut Grove, MN

Mr. Gordon:

I recommend that you contact the American Association for State and Local
History, 530 Church Street, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 3219-2325.  Ask for the
association's publications catalog.  They have a series of publications that
target the problems of small historical societies and museums.  Joining the
organization will bring you a monthly newsletter and a quarterly magazine
with helpful information.

AASLH also offers relevant training workshops.  AALH has a web site at
www.aaslh.org which gives access to its publications catalog, schedule of
workshops, etc.

The Minnesota Historical Society and your regional museum association are
also likely to offer short workshops and newsletters that would be of help
to you.

G. Ellis Burcaw's INTRODUCTION TO MUSEUM WORK was first published in 1975,
but I think has recently been updated.  It is a good overview for someone
getting involved in a small museum.  If your museum is in an historic house,
I would also recommend Shirley Butcher-Younghans HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS
(Oxford University Press, 1993).

Good luck!  Board work for a small museum can be both very rewarding and
challenging.

>
William S. Hanable