Seems to me a museum isn't a museum without a collection - even science
museums and discovery centers usually have some kind of collection
(gadgets, displays, diaramas, whatever).  Sure, they tend to focus on
the concepts rather than the objects, and that's where the confusion
comes in - I will save debate on "intellectual property" for another
time and place - but they still use some object (even a damned computer
monitor) to communicate a message.

If you are saying they just rent the stuff, it isn't accessioned, then I
say you aren't looking at a museum.  It might be an educational facility
(a classroom), a lab, or a traveling sideshow, I guess.  Call it what
you will.  A man who rents his house isn't a home-owner, even if he says
"this is my house" - technically, legally, he is wrong.  I'd say take a
look at how the IMLS defines a museum; I am willing to go along with the
US government on this one.

Just my 2 cents.
--
Timothy L. Campbell
[log in to unmask]
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/8189

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