As a program director for a 30,000+ object public study collection at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, I too think that the list would find discussions of this sort interesting. We serve over 12,000 visitors each year, with education our principle focus...both through formal school programs and individual study... We obviously have collections management functions, although to avoid conflicts, we don't have accessioning authority. Sometimes I think our Registrar isn't sure what kind of hybrid organism to classify us as and how to fit us into the more traditional and formal museum environment. Are these the sorts of "unique situtation" concerns that others would be interested in peeking in on or contributing to? _Richard Efthim, Naturalist Center _National Museum of Natural History _Washington, DC 20560 _(202)357-1503 fax:(202)786-2778 [log in to unmask]