I'm doing a paper on museums and what's important to them pertaining to the
collection and programs.

I would appreciate any comments on the following?  (lot's of questions I know)

1.  Is your guest (the visitor's experience) or the historic buildings or the
collection your prime function or most important aspect of your mission as a
museum?  In other words, is your guest your primary asset or your collection
and programs?  If not what is?

2,  Do you rate your volunteers and interpretation as your primary or major
asset?
If not, what is your primary or major asset?

3.  Do you think your visitor is more interested in a) seeing the "real"
artifacts properly displayed in an exhibit or case or b) to experience your
docents or interpreters demonstrating the use of the artifact's (through a
reproduction item) or c) to have direct hands on experience with the
(reproduction item) or program?  Or something else?

4.  A.  How important is your collection and historic buildings in your
mission and programs?   Do you consider your educational programs on a higher
level of importance than, for example, preserving your collection?

B. Concerning your budget, does equal amounts go into preserving your
collection and the programs, or more into one or the other and which receives
more funding?

5.  Indeed, leisure, entertainment and such plays a major role in the
visitor's reasoning for visiting your site as a destination, but why do they
come to your museum or site?

A.  Do you feel the visitor wants to see "real" artifacts or "reproduction"
artifacts?
B.  Is it important for your organization to have "real" artifacts to
exhibit?
C.  Do you use the real "artifacts" or reproduction ("usifacts") items in
your programs?

6.  If your musuem/site has more than one curator, are they on equal levels
(pay and the reporting level)?  Where does your curator(s) rank in your chain
of command?  Is he/she/they on the same equality (rank/pay/etc) as your
educational or other staff members?

Thanks for your help

John Martinson