In article <004701bde584$a1a79480$a255f0ce@ross-weeks>,
  "Ross Weeks Jr." <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> And what is this all about???

If you could read half as well as you pontificate, you would know.


>
> Is it that the writer feels entitled to free use of museums?

No, I have no such feeling.


> Non-governmental museums rely on all types of income, including government
> support if available, just to be able to make available the exhibits and -
> yes - the restrooms.  There is no free lunch <s>

I appreciate your discourse on non-governmental museums.  I agree that
there is no free lunch.  Someone has to pay.  In general, there is much to
be said for imposing user fees.

As you may know, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is, in a sense, a
quasi-governmental museum.  For example, it receives much help (including
money and use of a building) from government agencies.  I am curious
whether that help legally affects the Museum's right to charge a fee (even
a one-cent fee) for use of a restroom or for access to art on display.

Furthermore, in some places in America, I think that restaurants and
certain other public accomodations must make their rest rooms freely
available to any member of the public who walks in (even people who pay
nothing).  The Museum operates a restaurant, a cafeteria, and a few
shops.  Possibly that operation affects the Museum's legal right to charge
a fee (even a one-cent fee) for use of its rest rooms.  I am genuinely
curious, so I asked.


If the Met conspicuously posted signs explicitly charging an admission
fee, the Museum would continue to have many visitors.  It has fine
exhibits.


>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sierra <[log in to unmask]>
> Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Monday, September 21, 1998 12:36 PM
> Subject: met museum admission fee
>
> >How much is the minimum necessary to pay to enter the Metropolitan Museum
> >of Art (in New York City, on 5th Avenue at about 81st Street) to:
> >  (1)  look at art, or
> >  (2)  use a toilet there?
> >
> >........
> >
> >ONCE CENT FEE TO LOOK AT ART?
> >The Met operates the Cloisters, a medieval museum in a public park in
> >north Manhattan (Fort Tryon).  I don't know who owns the museum.  I once
> >was told, by a cashier there, that the security guards would not let me
> >past them unless I wore a small metal pin, and that I had to pay at least
> >one cent to the cashier for that pin.  I paid a nickel, was given a pin
> >and a receipt for 5 cents, and only then was allowed past the guards.  My
> >purpose was to look at the art.  I had openly tried to get to the art for
> >free that day but was not allowed to.  The cashier's sign announces a
> >"donation" and I had explicitly explained that I did not want to make a
> >donation that day.
> >
> >I was told by the cashier that at least one cent was required of me for
> >the small metal pin, which the guards require of anyone who seeks to walk
> >past them.  Does the Met have the legal right to require even one cent for
> >admission to the Cloisters if the purpose of admission is to see the art?
> >
> >...
> >
> >
> >ONE DOLLAR FEE TO USE A TOILET?
> >Recently, someone (not me) wanted to use a toilet of the Met Museum of Art
> >building (on 5th Avenue).  He was told that he was required to pay one
> >dollar.  He paid the dollar, got a receipt for one dollar, and only then
> >was allowed to use a toilet.  The Met (on 5th Avenue) has a cafeteria and
> >a restaurant on its premises.  It is in a public park (Central Park).  Its
> >entry building (the imposing building used as a main entrance for the
> >public) is owned by the City of New York.  It gets money from the City
> >government.  Does the Met have the right to charge money for admission to
> >the Museum if the purpose is use of one of its toilets by a stranger
> >walking in off the street?
[snip]

--
Alan J. Munn  [log in to unmask]
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/8014/