On the subject of the role for university museums I would like to add the
following. I think the role of a good university museum should also relate
to how well it wishes to act as an example to other museums in its region
for how to do it right.

In my own experience I think of the University of Arkansas (in Fayetteville,
Arkansas, USA) and the University Museum.  It plays a very active role in
training museum professionals (who often then go to work in many of the
small museums across the region) in the proper techniques and finer points
of museum management.

Through the University's Department of Archeology, it has taken the lead in
preserving local archeological sites and artifacts.

However, like all university museums it is strapped for cash. It faces a
need for a new facility that would allow it to become reaccredited. However,
it still manages to make do with what it has. So, once again, it serves as
an example for others for how to make do with the resources available. And
it also maintains weekend hours as any proper museum should thanks to the
dedication of its staff and volunteers.

The knowledge and information the museum  and its staff routinely pass along
to the local museum community (who more often than not are former students
of the museum's programs) far outweighs anything else it could bring to the
table.

I think the major role university museums can play is to serve as an example
and resource to a regional museum community. With a strong university museum
to foster and support their efforts, regions can develop their own
self-sustaining networks of museums and historical preservation
organizations that would probably never develop otherwise.

The other extreme would be what happened with the Oregon State University.
The university museum has been closed for a number of years, it's
collections hard to access and no word as to its eventual fate and the role
it would play, if any, in the overall regional museum community.

Anything that could be done to encourage universities to "fight the good
fight" and remain in operation should be done.

Thomas E. (Pete) Jordon


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