Dear H.M.L. Burchmore-- I'd be glad to comment on this, but perhaps off line? If you will send me or post your e-mail address, I'll reciprocate with comments. I think the biggest question will be the choice of verbs. "Forced?" "Trapped?" By whom? Some may choose those routes. Many do not. Some choose to deal with local material, but does that mean that they are of "purely local significance?" Some global issues can be illuminated with local examples. Gordon Murdock Bell Museum of Natural History and Museum Studies Minor Program University of Minnesota [log in to unmask] In message <[log in to unmask]> Museum discussion list writes: > I'm currently doing a MSc in Museum Studies (in England)and would > like to find out what curators, visitors and researchers think the > current role of natural history in museums is. Are museums being > forced down the "Disney" path, trapped into displays of purely local > significance, or is there now a wider, more global role for museums > to play? What do you think?? Please let me know. Thanks !!