If there is a general agreement that catalogs are effective
          and useful ways of conveying information, but they cost too
          much, there are a few apparent solutions.
 
          1) Work as hard on subsidizing catalog costs as we do on
          other exhibition elements (I mean if we analyzed the long
          term costs of multimedia/interactive/etc, I'm sure that we
          are all subsidizing them quite heavily.) In this way,
          catalogs could be made less expensive.
 
          2) Make levels of catalogs, with different prices and
          different levels of information/illustration, and different
          media such as hardbound, paperbound, pamphlet, etc.
 
          3) Give people places to read and browse through materials
          in exhibition spaces themselves. I've always enjoyed a
          comfortable reading room as a break in the exhibition, with
          copies of catalogs and other reference materials left on
          tables for browsing. With spaces such as these included in
          exhibitions, visitors could get a real taste of the catalog
          before they decide to buy.
 
           I guess my overall point is that the
          museum profession seems to be willing to put a huge amount
          of work and money into new technological means of conveying
          information. Is that because its better, or just catchier?
          Could catalogs be made better with all the energy and money
          going into other technology?
 
          I'm just thinking out loud, I don't mean to sound
          definitive, combative, or Luddite.
 
          Eric
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