>        It is unfortunate that MCN-L is limiting itself to an exclusive
>membership for listserv discussions while simultaneously calling for
>volunteers to assist these same MCM members with Internet
>connections/problems. We could all benefit from an 'open' exchange of
>information. The MCN-L listserv's description seems interesting, but I just
>finished graduate school and I simply cannot currently afford the
>membership price to be included.
>-Robert Craddick, Atlanta
>MFA Rhode Island School of Design 1991
>MLIS University of Texas at Austin 1995

Hi, just a quick note here from a member of MCN (not on the board or anything).
I would recommend membership for individuals or institutions with an
interest in computing in museums, and as for the cost - it's the best deal
going!

Individual membership is $50 a year; this includes access to the listserv,
the quarterly journal (Spectra), etc etc. $50 a year is roughly two months
of cable TV in most cities - or a year's subscription to one or two good
popular magazines. This is a far cry from the thousands it costs to belong
to many other museum organizations; which only institutions, and not all at
that, can afford.

As for the other concern; I was not a member when MCN was "mostly
registrars", but it certainly has grown in diversity since then, and
includes MANY aspects of public and administrative computing. And MCN needs
$$ to continue work; if they put all the member benefits out there for free
(current copy of journal, listserv access, flat conference rates) why would
anyone bother joining? Then we'd be back at square one.

On that note, it would behoove MCN (I hope) to provide *some* general
access to valuable MCN info, perhaps in a much-belated manner for
non-members to preserve the member benefits. So, and older version of
Spectra for general reading, or a listserv archive that is not exactly
current may be a nice in between zone; attracting and informing non-members
while preserving some incentive for members.

OK, OK, enough of a plug (perhaps I *could* be a board member for MCN in
charge of "shameless plugs division" :) Anyway, in my opinion, it's easily
worth $50 a year.




Richard Rinehart              | University Art Museum / Pacific Film Archive
Systems Manager & Education   | University of California at Berkeley
Technology Specialist         | 2625 Durant, Berkeley, CA 94720-2250
[log in to unmask] | http://www.uampfa.berkeley.edu/