I have a more generous perspective, being less than perfect myself, and I would advocate being more charitable to one another. First, I think a lot has to do with individuals. Some people have a sense of collegiality and like to help others, some put their own agendas ahead of helping anyone else. Some, in fact, do nothing for others unless they expect something in return. I suspect that the majority of people who subscribe to this list-serve are among the collegial, but we all know others out there who are not. Second, I have always worked at museums that were understaffed and trying to do more than was quite realistic. Sometimes when a request like that comes in the timing is good and I can help right away, other times more urgent things may be biting at my heels. Recently I've begun developing a cadre of volunteers who are able to respond to inquiries faster than I can. But, certainly in a museum with staff, it seems that should be much easier. All that said, however, in the case John described, after requesting a formal letter the person certainly should have replied promptly, if only with a friendly email letting him know that the request was being worked on, and if the pistol hasn't been found, at least you can say 'we're looking'. Frustrated? Of course. Response? Take the high road. Lucy Sperlin Butte County Historical Society Oroville, CA _____ From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cyndi Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 7:56 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Museums working together...NOT! Amen to that brother! Cynthia Miles Dan Bartlett <[log in to unmask]> wrote: $5 says they can't find the pistol. db John Gavin wrote: > Last August a researcher let us know about an artifact in a museum in > Colorado that may have belonged to an individual central to the biggest > story in our area. The staff was very excited about this info and my > registrar contacted the museum to see if we could obtain a photo, serial > number (item is a pistol) and the provenance. My registrar was told by the > curator there that the request would have to come in the form of a letter > from me, the museum director. I thought it a little odd that a director > would have to get involved in what is essentially a collection's staff > everyday procedure, but nevertheless in early October I wrote a letter to > the director of the museum requesting the above information. I explained the > importance to us of the pistol. > > Time passed without any response so in January I wrote a second letter and > attached the original letter. Still no response. The researcher who had > volunteered at the museum in the 70s (how he knew about the pistol), called > the director to see if he could get some action. No response. He called > again and the director asked that I call him after faxing a copy of the > original letter, which I did. (NOTICE THAT HE DID NOT OFFER TO CALL ME). In > my conversation with the director he laid it all on his curator... busy, on > vacation, thought it was taken care of, blah, blah, blah. Three weeks have > gone by and you guessed it... no response. > > Correct me if I am wrong but it is my understanding that museums are > supposed to work together. I know that our response to such a request would > have been answered as soon as possible. What also bothers me is the idea > that the museum in question is really tooting its own horn in an attempt to > get AAM conference attendees to take the long trip by Denver Light Rail to > their site in the spirit of collaboration! One additional item I noticed in > their board minutes, posted on their site, was the response by the director > to a question from a board member about whether the museum ever piggybacks > on the events of other organizations in the area. His response was, "...that > usually others piggyback on the museum." I suppose that is a telling remark. > > What do all of you think about this situation? The volunteer wanted to call > the director again and really let him have it, but I squashed that idea. My > only idea at this point is to write to the board members to make them aware > of the non-collaboration, or perhaps I should just let it die, especially > since I have now vented to this board! > > ========================================================= > 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). > > > > -- Dan Bartlett, BFA, MA Curator of Exhibits Midway Village & Museum Center Rockford, IL ========================================================= 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). _____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http:/mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8H DtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ%20> it now. ========================================================= 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).