Maurice D. Smith, Curator, Marine Museum of the Great Lakes wrote: <<There is one activity that the county museums can do far better than the large museums in city centres and that is develop collections related to their regions. In the province of Ontario for example we have slightly under 200 community based museums recognized by the provincial government. They are more effective in preserving provincial history than the Royal Ontario Musuems of the world but under the present political climate 'those thats got, gets'. So the rest of us starve because we cannot muster the hype and the connections. Yes we do suffer from exhibits that in many cases are boring and passive but do not forget that in those storage rooms are the collections that will in time provide the material of understanding.>> I agree--mostly! <s> Smaller museums have a critical role regarding local collecting. And my recommendation as to partnerships is one--of many possibilities--for helping to "muster the hype and the connections." On the other hand, I think that there has to be a connection made between what's in those storage rooms, and the public. I *do* understand the challenges (having worked at a small historic site myself), but the collections will not "provide the material of understand" if the objects aren't pulled out of storage and displayed in engaging, intriguing, and fun ways. <IMHO> Susan M. Ward Director, Heritage Communications [log in to unmask] 615-661-6336