In article <1994Sep29.101325.2408@clp2>, Ellen Moore <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
>The question of whether or not to create a new listserv for museums
>planning or in the process of developing World Wide Web servers has
>been discussed in great detail over the past couple of weeks.
 
Some substantive discussion about WWW/Mosaic itself has _also_ been
presented in the MUSEUM-L forum (as well as in several other forums:
those dedicated exclusively to WWW and Mosaic, and subject-matter forums,
like MUSEUM-L, where WWW and Mosaic are just used as tools). Let's have
more. Is anyone refraining from submitting such discussion to MUSEUM-L? Why?
 
>The Carnegie Musuem of Natural History and The Carnegie Library of
>Pittsburgh are ready to host such a list if indeed there is enough interest.
 
MUSEUM-L, hosted by Univ of New Mexico and John Chadwick, already has
demonstrated that the interest in the topic is there, _and_ has provided
a forum for its discussion.
 
>If you are interested in participating in a list geared specifically
>to museums and the WEB please reply to this message on
>Museum-l or to Ellen Moore, [log in to unmask]   or Dan Iddings at
>[log in to unmask]  If enough people want such a list we will set it up.
 
The desire to fractionate might be most justified on the basis of the
perceived high "noise" level of MUSEUM-L, argued by some. Is CMNH/CLP
willing to establish a moderated list, with assurances that there will
be no noise? And assurances that there will be no censorship?
 
Do the subscribers of MUSEUM-L, in the majority, feel that their
museum's future is not tied to networked information technology (e.g.,
WWW/Mosaic) and that they would rather not have discussions on MUSEUM-L
about networked info technology? Or, on the other hand, would most of
you simply be compelled to _also_ subscribe to a new list so as to not
"miss" any of the action?  How many of you can honestly say that you
can (afford to) drop your subscription to MUSEUM-L and join the new
WWW/Mosaic list (rather than simply adding it to your roster of
subscriptions)?
 
Issues about WWW/Mosaic (and the next generation of this genre of software
to come) _and_ museums are _every_ museum's concern. Leave that discussion
here on MUSEUM-L.
 
Highly technical issues about the innards of WWW/Mosaic are already
discussed extensively on other forums dedicated to that. They serve
the museum people who are already deeply into WWW/Mosaic very well.
 
By the way, I have contributed more than a little to these
meta-discussion (which I would otherwise consider noise) about museum-l
business, and do so with mixed feelings. My justification is that I
think that many, many museums are still in the early experiences stage
of using computer/network info technology, and must be allowed to
discuss issues--that may seem old hat or off the subject (of museums)
to some--without being having to feel guilty about it. Those who are
"in the know" shouldn't abandon those who are just getting started.
Stay with MUSEUM-L and give.
Off soapbox.
 
Now, having said all that, it is nonetheless delightful to know that
CMNH/CLP is ready to deploy info technology and human resources in
support of advancing our cause.
Peter Rauch