" placement of gift shop merchandise cases (platforms and vitrines) within or adjacent to exhibits? What is the general opinion of this practice?" Sounds like good marketing to me. I certainly appreciate them as a consumer (read: museum shop junkie) when I travel. Obviously, you don't want the marketing to interfere with the exhibition's presentation, but that's just a matter of design. Chris Dill - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C. L. Dill, Museum Director State Historical Society of North Dakota 612 East Boulevard Bismarck ND 58505-0830 P: (701)328-2666 F: (701)328-3710 E: [log in to unmask] Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/