Dear Colleagues:
As I understand it the purpose of Museum-L
is:
Museum-L is a general purpose, cross-disciplinary
electronic discussion list for museum professionals, students, and all others
interested in museum related issues. All museum related topics are acceptable
for posting and discussion at this time. Membership in Museum-L is open to
anyone with e-mail service.
This is quite broad and does not seem to preclude queries
from individuals seeking assistance with employment opportuntities. Nor does it
seem to preclude employment ad postings, promotion of museum-related products
and services, including resources such as workshops, degree-granting programs
and consulting. If I am wrong, please correct me or direct me to an appropriate
source to clarify my understanding.
Personally, as a Museum-L spectator interested
in the future of the museum profession and the unrealized potentail of
REAL mentoring, I appreciate those of you who have the professional
gusto to offer helpful advice, mentoring and references to other resources
that might help and guide our emerging colleagues who query the list regarding
employment opportunties.
Those of you who insist on engaging in unproductive
banter regarding this matter should be ashamed of yourselves. The museum
profession (read: consisting of professionals) should embrace its emerging
leaders and assume a more supportive and mentoring stance. We cannot afford to
ostracize our colleagues when there is so much important work to be done in our
communities, museums and other educational and cultural institutions.
So let's all just relax and take a deep breath. I
would like to recommend that if you have information that would be helpful
to our colleagues and friends, share it, but don't embarrass me and my
profession or jeopardize the true value of The Museum Discussion List
(Museum-L) by assuming to control the content and purposes of the
list.
Thank you for reading.
Laura Ryan