I agree with Douglas Greenberg's point of view on the NYHistorical Society, and I want to raise a similar point with with a problem about to happen, also in NYC. Recently discussions have gone back and forth over the disposition of the Guggenheim's art library, which has been closed and staff summarily dismissed. When I called the Public Affairs dept. to inquire about it, I basically got the runaround (the conversation I had was actually kind of funny however). ARLIS has issued a formal grievance against the Museum for its handling of the library, and MoMA has refused interlibrary loan to it. Not unrelated, the Museum (after receiving some $20M in donations from LeFrak and others) has applied for permission from the NY Landmarks Comm to attach people's names to portions of the building for $$ (in particular, LeFrak's name to the new tower behind the spiral). With all of the money coming into the museum as of late, why do they neglect the library? A pointless question, I suppose. No one of us is going to know the Guggenheim's spending ability. But the juxtaposition of events such as these raises questions (and we hear no answers coming from the Guggenheim) of this sort. My own opinion (for what it's worth) is that the Guggenheim is in the process of changing its focus from being a museum to being a museum shop. :-( Ed Bridges [log in to unmask] American Museum of Natural History 212 769-5277 fax 212 769-5740