I am forwarding this message from my colleague Lucy-Anne Bishop, Museum Assistant here, who currently does not have an Internet address. Please send any replies or comments to me and I'll pass them on. CAN ANYONE HELP?? I am currently investigating the subject of Disciplines in museums. This includes both ACADEMIC/CURATORIAL DISCIPLINES (eg ethnography, natural history, archaeology, social history, based on the organisation and division of collections) and PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES (eg Curation, Conservation, Interpretation & Education etc) and the staffing structures (eg Departments) which try to accommodate all of these activities. (I am also looking at boundaries and areas of overlap and differentiation). I wonder to what extent a museum's functions could be made more effective and integrated by practising a more INTERDISCIPLINARY (or Cross-disciplinary) approach? Might this improve communication and efficiency, lead to more creative and interesting collections interpretation through the introduction of different perspectives, or sharing of resources and opportunities? Could it help towards integration of collections management or documentations systems, or improved information exchange between the traditional museum departments (in museums that are large enough to have separate departments. Maybe smaller museums by nature practise a more integrated, holistic approach?). Is all of this already happening somewhere? Has anyone any relevant experiences to relate? ... Frustration from the inflexibility of current systems? ... Successes (through interdepartmental co-operation, for example)? ... Failures or horror stories? ... or reasons why integration could not work in their museum? Please contact me with any information or comments. -- Anne James, Assistant Librarian The Horniman Museum & Gardens 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ, UK Tel: 0181 766 7663; Fax 0181 766 7315 [log in to unmask]