"Understanding the multi-layered nature of museums and its goals, how many of you still cling to the notion of museum as art temple/church?" Piper, Not to deny the significance of your own experience, but you seem to betray a somewhate narrow view of the museum world. It is indeed multi-layered and art museums are only one small (but relatively well-funded) part of that world. In my own experience, it is the smell of a small history museum (that peculiar combination of dust, mold, mildew or whatever) that invokes an excited emotional response in me, but it's not a religious experience by any means. RT Ron Twellman, Curator of Collections EAA AirVenture Museum P.O. Box 3065 Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065 920-426-5917 ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).