At 09:22 AM 6/30/97 EDT, Barbara C. Batson wrote:

>But does it seem that museums have mis-interpreted what the
>visiting public wants/expects?  Declining attendance (or overly
>optimistic expectations of attendance) have threatened so many
>museums and historic sites, that perhaps museum professionals
>should examine their assumptions.  Nauticus, Valentine
>Riverside, Baltimore City Life Museums, Historical Society of
>Western Pennsylvania, New-York Historical Society, even
>Colonial Williamsburg--does anyone see a pattern?
>
>Any thoughts?

Is it the museum professionals that are making these suppositions on
attendance or is it maily consultants?  I know personally of several
consultant firms who are working for museums that prior to their present
projects never worked with museums before and are very unaware of the
professional museum field.  Anyone aware of the particulars with Ms.
Batson's list?