Regarding open or visible storage in museums: The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia has had "open storage" for some time. Other members of this list are better qualified to describe it (e.g., Kersti Krug or Carole Mayer) but I can give those interested some basic information. The Museum, on the campus of theUniversity of British Columbia, features a superb collection of the art and artifacts of the First Nations peoples of the Pacific Northwest in its permanent galleries. It also has objects reflecting cultures from the rest of the world in a few galleries and in its Visible Storage area. These objects are behind glass in cases and drawers, with coded catalogs identifying and documenting each object. The locks on the cases and drawers are of high quality and closed-circuit video cameras were installed to monitor the area during visitor hours. To the best of my knowledge they have never had a problem with security in Visible Storage from the 150,000 or so who visit the museum each year. I don't know exactly how many objects are there but there were about 12000 documented items in 1977 when Michael Ames, the Director, wrote about the Visible Storage system in CURATOR (20/1,1977). All objects are visible but the cases are quite dense. It is explained at the beginning of the Visible Storage area that the objects are not on exhibit in the usual sense but are used in the teaching programs of the Museum and the academic departments (anthropology and archaeology) of the University. Even so, visitors are invited to go through Visible Storage if they wish. Some still complain about the many duplications and the density of objects but most understand the purpose of the area and appreciate being shown what would otherwise be "back stage." A great deal of the scholarly needs for access to the objects can be accomodated without handling the objects. When that is not possible, arrangements can be made through the curatorial staff to gain access to the objects. The system still works well today and minimizes wear and tear on both staff and the collection. There are a few classes of light-sensitive objects not kept in visible storage - textiles, for example, but nearly the entire collection is on display. In addition to the CURATOR article, MOA's Visible Storage system was described by Michael Ames in a paper delivered to ICOM's Architecture and Museum Techniques Committee in London back in 1983 ( and, likely, in lots of other places of which I am not aware). Direct communication with the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B. C., Canada is advised for those interested. bob kelly Robert F. Kelly, Chair, Marketing Division Faculty of Commerce and Faculty Research Associate,Museum of Anthropology University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1Z2 (604) 822-8346 Fax: 822-8521 [log in to unmask]