Given the recent postings, particularly that of Mario Rups ([log in to unmask]), I think I need to say a few words. Rod Montgomery is a six-week Intern working with me this summer. One of his projects was to help *ME* compile a list of museum staff and related people and their email addresses (the objectives of this project have been explained in several e-mail messages over the past month or so). It surprises me how a fairly simple project designed ONLY to help the community can be instantly seen as the beginning of the evil empire. The purpose of the Directory is to improve communications among museum professionals and to get more museum people using the net. Many people have written to us about the proposed Directory. To be honest there are one or two people who think it is a total waste of time; while there must be another fifty people who express strong support for it, "greatly needed", etc. One of the questions I get all the time at the meeting that I attend: "Is who is on the net?" "How do I find some ones address?" One of the great weaknesses on the net (at this time), is that there is no directory; and the X.500 directory service is still somewhere in the future. We have sent a message to many lists requesting members to send information for the Directory. And many people have responded; we have perhaps a thousand names at this time. However, as with any general survey request, the response is usually quite low, say 10% or less. Every person who subscribes to museum-l (and many other lists as well) are informed when they subscribe about the REVIEW command and how to use the CONCEAL command. In planning this project, as a way to increase coverage, I had planned to collect names with the REVIEW command from several lists. In reviewing the project plan with several people, the appropriateness of using the REVIEW command was raise as an issue. Some people were very concerned about this for a wide variety of reason. So, we wrote up the "ethical issues" raised by using the REVIEW command to collect name and posted it to Ethics-L and Cyberia-L (and it has been reposted to the comp-privacy USENET discussion), asking for guidance. The response has varied as you might expect. Some people see no problem, because the names are "public" anyway. While others don't want anyone to do anything. The most command thread to the comments was that the members of a list should be informed as to what we planned to do, and given the option to participate or NOT to participate in the Directory project. But, still because of concern that some people might have to this we drop the idea of using the REVIEW command on ALL lists except the MUSEUM-L list. I included the museum-l list, because of its focus -- is the most relevant discussion list to the Directory project. I have tried to show sensitivity on this subject; perhaps not enough. I'm sorry if this has offended anyone on the list. I think that we have been honest and told the list in advance what we would like to do. We have research how to conceal your name, for you, if you wish to conceal your name. I can only say that you do not have to be in the directory, if you do not wish to. I would be happy to try an address any issues a list member has about this project. You may write to me directly at the email address below. yours, David Bridge [log in to unmask]