>>>>From: David E. Haberstich [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
...objects in their care on the grounds that the objects do not have a high
enough marketplace value to justify the time devoted to the procedures.<<<<

This is an especially difficult concept for "outsiders"--that value may not
be monetary.  My department is birds.  It is illegal to *posess* (nevermind
buy or sell) North American birds, so there can be no commerical value.
Does that mean our specimens are worthless?  They should be thrown out?  Of
course not!  But how much of our monetary resources (via staff, facilities,
supplies, etc.) do they deserve?  Natural history museum people have been
wrestling with this problem for some years now, but it's still hard to
articulate.  Explaining it to a "bean-counter" mentality is nigh on
impossible.

Robin K Panza                         [log in to unmask]
Collection Manager, Section of Birds          ph:  412-622-3255
Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4008  USA

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