Dear Colleagues,

I would suggest:
"Cultural institution" instead of "educational organization"
"society" or "humankind" instead of "public"
"Preserving, researching and divulgating" instead of just "interpreting"
"collections" instead of "the use of a physycal environment and often
objects" (would it be so simple to get rid of virtual museums? And when
their subject be precisely digital information - non-physical stuff?)

The remaining sentence seems to be unnecessary, since all museums hold
collections and preserve them for the future (not for the past).

This would make:

A MUSEUM IS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION THAT SERVES THE SOCIETY (OR
HUMANKIND) BY PRESERVING, RESEARCHING AND DIVULGATING SCIENTIFIC,
CULTURAL AND/OR NATURAL HERITAGE THROUGH THE USE OF COLLECTIONS.

Sorry for the sharp knife...
Best,
Francisco Marshall
ICOM/BR


>>> [log in to unmask] 10/07/03 10:50AM >>>
Colleagues:

The following is one of the definition that has been suggested. What are
your thoughts  about this idea. Does it adequately describe a "museum,"
or is it too broad, too limiting, too inclusive, or too exclusive?


A MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC BY
INTERPRETING SCIENTIFIC, CULTURAL AND/OR NATURAL HERITAGE THROUGH THE
USE OF A PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND OFTEN OBJECTS. MUSEUMS THAT HOLD
COLLECTIONS CARE FOR THEM AS A PUBLIC TRUST AND PRESERVE THEM FOR THE
FUTURE.

Gary Edson

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