The Smithsonian provided the following update to staff via internal email.
Thought it might be of interest:


"The following is an update from the State Department staff supporting ORHA
(Office for Reconstructions and Humanitarian Assistance) staff.  Ambassador
Limbert is a member of ORHA responsible for cultural affairs:

1) Ambassador Limbert has reached Baghdad and the National Museum of Iraq.
He
spoke to the museum staff -- all of whom are safe.

2) Museum officials told Ambassador Limbert that they have good records of
holdings -- rumor that these records were destroyed is not true.

3) Despite the loss of many valuable pieces, a good many smaller, valuable
pieces had been put in storage for safe keeping and may still be at the
Museum.
The officials asked the US military to provide lighting in basement
storage
areas so that an inventory can be done.

4) Many stolen objects have been returned to the Museum via local mosques
at the
urging of religious leaders.

5) Islamic collection appears not to be badly affected -- the most
valuable
manuscripts were successfully placed in safe keeping.

6) Museum officials told Ambassador Limbert that what they will most need
in the
way of assistance will be:
     a) people to help with restoration
     b) financial or in-kind assistance to replace lost equipment (e.g.,
         cameras,  security system, computers."

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).