I have subscribed to this list for a month or so and find the discussions
quite interesting. Although I am a librarian by profession, as a museum
visitor I am struck by the similar issues and concerns that are faced by
libraries and museums.

I just wanted to comment that as a visitor to the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk,
VA, I had my first encounter with "open storage."  I had never seen this done
before, but thought it was done wonderfully by this museum.  The open storage
cases are secure and well-lit, but are located in discreet, somewhat screened
off, areas directly behind the more formal, labelled displays, so they seem
quite optional and don't detract at all from the main exhibit.  I found that
once I had read the information prepared for the exhibit and listened to the
audio information available through the portable device, I gained a good
understanding of the material that I was viewing ( in this case the marvelous
glass collection).  At each historical point in the exhibit, I was able to
walk behind to the open storage area (in which the pieces were not labeled)
and still be able to see further examples of the types of objects displayed in
the exhibit.  I found that this gave me a deeper understanding of each type of
object because I was not just seeing the "exemplary" pieces (which must be
very difficult for the exhibitor to select) but also perhaps the less
"important" or "imperfect" pieces.  This was only an enhancement in my view,
somewhat like delving into the "further reading" section of an historical
overview.

I've enjoyed reading this list and hearing the issues and concerns it raises,
which are applicable to many professions, and I thought I should try to
contribute some comments from a museum visitor's point of view.

Anne Wood Humphries
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