ICOM-L is a discussion list for all interested ICOM members. It is the main forum for discussions within the organization outside of our annual or triannual meetings and for spreading up-to-date information and opinions among our members. In short, ICOM-L is a cornerstone in the democratic structure of this member-based organization. It is therefore of vital importance that ICOM-L stays open for all concerned participants. Lately there have been disturbing signs that the list does not function this way. It has become obvious that messages posted on the list have been withheld in the Secretariat and have not appeared in people's mailboxes. In the beginning of April, a member of ICOM Norway and the Ethics committee sent a posting expressing concern that the programme of the June meetings had been altered so that standing committees should not meet, contrary to earlier practice and contrary to what had already been decided and announced also for this year's meeting. Her posting was withheld and only appeared after she insisted on it during a long telephone discussion with our new Director General. Mails she received in the wake of her message made it clear that other postings about the same topic had also been withheld from the list. As a result of this policy of withholding messages, the members of ICOM have in effect been kept ignorant of what reactions there have been to the sudden and unexplained change of schedule for the June meeting. After several exchanges the list was reluctantly opened for a few new postings. But the new policy in the Secretariat of screening each and every mail before eventually posting it, leads to a delay of up to a week or more - which of course reduces the value of ICOM-L as a quick and efficient way of communication among ICOM members. There is no reason why messages should be withheld in the Secretariat for so long. It can not be necessary that our hard-working new Director General should have the burden of personally reading each and every posting in order to give his consent to posting it on the list. Messages should be posted promptly after checking only that they are relevant to ICOM and do not violate law or common decency, something which does not require the involvement of the Director General. Preserving ICOM-L as a free and open channel of information and opinion is a basic prerequisite for maintaining ICOM as a democratic community - an organization which exists by and for its members. Leif Pareli Chairman of ICOM Norway - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html