I instinctively agree that it is information that computers
          are good at conveying, and we may be treading a
          problem-ridden path in providing images. However, the many
          on-line research library catalogs provide the information
          services that have been described in this discussion. Need
          to look up an obscure artist? or a particular period in
          decorative arts? or a historical reference?: Try the NY
          public library on-line catalog; similarly with most other
          research questions. The library community has been doing
          this for years and have refined it to a considerable degree.
 
          So, what kind of information should the museum put on line?
          I seem finally to agree with whoever it was who said:
          Museums should put on line whatever information works best
          to bring people into the museum, where they can gain contact
          with the actual object. Of course, text and bibliographic
          information about objects is wonderful as well.
 
          Maybe (sorry for thinking out loud rather than thinking
          first and writing later) what would be most useful is some
          sort of object-based research information on line, so that
          specific curatorial information about a given exhibition or
          collection object is available to remote "visitors" or
          researchers. This would be organized around the object, and
          accessible from that point of view, rather than the general
          research questions handled best by libraries.
 
          Eric Siegel
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