In response to Rich Johnson's comments: I agree with just about everything you said. I am also opposed to 'lecturing' and, in fact, I conduct numerous public programs (from pre-schoolers to elderhostel) for a wide variety of museums and other institutions with the main goal of engaging the audience, making the topic as interesting as possible, making them want to learn more, and increasing their appreciation of museums and education. It works. I am not advocating that mueums be stodgy, boring places reminiscent of a mausoleum where you have to go to learn something boring. Rather, I am advocating that, although museums may have to compete for funds, they do not have to become whatever they are competing with. They should be able to stand up against the competition. In response to your request for a quick answer for supporting museums, I think it would be that museums are unique, you can't get what they've got anywhere else, they provide an enduring value to society-museums have to make people realize that value by promoting it. The one area where museums should take a lesson from commercial entities is in promotion-not making the museum into an amusement park, but in selling what they have to offer as a unique, important opportunity that can be more interesting and valuable than spending your money at the park. Telling people something over and over again works, it's what sells soap, soup and cars. It can change what society values and buys, including admission to museums. Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf Dept. of Geology, University of Illinois 1301 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801 phone: (217) 367-5916; fax: (217) 244-4996; e-mail: [log in to unmask]