Many thanks Peter, I will think on this. But you should also feel free to contribute directly to the suggested revisions on ICOM-L. I'm staying quiet a little while to allow others to react or propose more. I've always been careful about leaping into the ICOM-L discussions with my Vice-President identity. However I have a high degree of interest in this issue: to ensure that now the moment has come, a really good re-definition is achieved (and not - again - a bad compromise of differently angled possibilities, or bureaucratic alteration). This so easily occurs in ICOM, through language, cultural and other differences, and the difficulty that many have in shaping a debate carefully and constructively). We achieved a remarkable degree of movement forward in recent years through the Reform process and wonderful group-effort I chaired. A much better set of statements and ICOM documents is emerging. I'm now really concerned that we achieve a good new definition of museums. Best wishes, Bernice At 15/10/2003 09:27 AM, you wrote: >Dear Bernice > >Your definition is quite long. What about splitting it thus: > >Museums are permanent institutions that conserve and communicate >knowledge of the natural world and the cultural inheritance of humanity >through collections, records, memories, images, and sites. Museums >interpret >and research for present and future generations." > > It removes the possibly unnecessary and to my mind ugly "they care >for" and (less defensively) in public trust. I think it is really >important to keep any definition short. > >This is my personal comment. > >Sincerely > >Peter > > > > >Peter Stanbury OAM, PhD >Chair, UMAC >ICOM's International Committee for University Museums and Collections) >Museums, Collections & Heritage >Vice-Chancellors Office >Macquarie University >New South Wales 2109 >AUSTRALIA > >+61 (0) 2 9850 7431 >+61 (0) 2 9850 75 65 (fax) > >[log in to unmask] > >www.icom.org/umac >www.museums.mq.edu.au > > >>> [log in to unmask] 14/10/2003 11:37:58 am >>> >I have one more element to add to the definition I proposed last week. > >Reviewing the conversation about the important elements in our >re-definition of museums, I appreciate that 'research' is such an >important >value in the life of museums (and requires continued defence and >resources), that we would do well to make sure it is not lost from >public >consciousness - including all the ethical considerations attaching to >standards of scientific research internationally. > >I would be pleased to include it in the suggestion I made earlier, >adding >to Gary Edson's current list of options. I am still arguing for a >simple-sentence, readable definition for general public understanding, >but >one that also has intellectual integrity for the diversity of the >museum >profession today. I would therefore include 'research' towards the end >of >the statement I propose - NOT near the beginning, as in the various >older >ICOM definitions (where 'research' seemed straight away to present >museums >as focused primarily on the activities of the researchers, rather than >the >public as beneficiaries and social participants in the conservation of >cultural and natural heritage). > >The addition of 'research' would therefore make my suggestion read: > >"Museums are permanent institutions that conserve and communicate >knowledge >of the natural world and the cultural inheritance of humanity through >collections, records, memories, images, and sites they care for, >research >and interpret, in public trust, for present and future generations." > >Bernice Murphy > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the >archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the >archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html