For a future issue of Hand to Hand, quarterly journal of the Association of Youth Museums, devoted to the subject of professional advancement in children's museums (cm's), I'm interested in hearing from people in response to the following: Is the children's museum profession paying enough attention to training new leaders for the field? A number of cm's have recently hired directors from outside the field. Are boards overlooking talent from within the field? Has the field defined the skills needed for leadership of our institutions? Are training/mentoring programs available to acquire skills to move up the ladder? Are avenues of advancement truly open within institutions? From staff's point of view? From board's point of view? Is our pattern of advancement similar to those of other museums? How often do the second-in-commands (assistant directors, education directors, exhibit directors, etc.) want to become directors? How likely are they to make it? Are museum directorships interchangeable? Does being a director of an historical society or fine arts center qualify you to run a children's museum? Or vice versa? How much crossover goes on the museum field in general? What specific expertise does a former cm director bring to another kind of museum? How much does museum content matter when hiring a director of a cm? One would assume a director of an art museum to demonstrate expertise in some aspect of art history. What's the comparable academic expertise ideal for a cm director? Does it matter if you like kids at all? Currently, besides MMI, what professional advancement programs are available for museum professionals in general? Are children's museums viewed as a sub-specialty in museum management? If a 19-year-old college student came to you and said, "My goal is to become a director of a children's museum," how would you advise them to direct their education/experience to give them the greatest advantage in breaking into the field? Hope this is not too long. Respond online or by phone or fax. Thanks. Mary Maher, editor, Hand to Hand 609 East Market Street, Suite 102A Charlottesville, VA 22902 804 295-7603 FAX 804 295-5045