please post replies to the list. ----- Original Message ----- From: "George W. Garner" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Monday, June 30, 2003 12:14 pm Subject: Selling links to for-profit sites on museum webpage > We are in the process of developing a new, interactive, > educational website > for our new institution. In absence of a facility, the website > will be a > major focus of our public educational programming for the next few > years. It > will contain an interactive collection database, online exhibits, > children'ssection, and other programming. > > I intended to create a 'Links' section where visitors could find more > off-site information. It's logical to offer links to (for-profit) > stores and > manufacturers who sell products and services related to our > mission. We're a > sports museum, so equipment dealers and manufacturers are a good > fit and > make sense to link. > > I wonder if it would be wise to sell, instead of give these links. > Let me be > sure I'm clear. I have no intention to offer banner ads, or huge > advertisements. Rather, simply list the name of the company, a website > (maybe phone number), and a brief description (one sentence) about > what they > offer. No flowery, sales terms (e.g. "The lowest prices in the > northeast!");instead, simple, clear terms (e.g. "Skate > manufacturer based in Hometown, > New York"). Visitors would know these were paid links, and we do > not endorse > any product or service. > > So far, I've seen nothing in the IRS website and 501c3 codes to > imply this > is a bad thing; however, I know of no other museum website that > does this. > This could be UBIT, but again, the legalese is a bit difficult for > me to > parse. I'm interested in opinions, particularly from those who > have thought > about something similar. Why did you (not) do it? > > Thanks in advance, > George Garner > > > The National Speedskating Museum & Hall of Fame > P.O. Box 3120, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 > George Garner, Director > [log in to unmask] > > ========================================================= > 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).