In article <[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] "=?ISO-2022-JP?B?GyRCMEIwZiEhTjwbKEI=?=" writes: > Dear Museum Colleagues, > I wonder if somebody could kindly provide me with information of when the Derb > yshire Museum Service ceased their entire service in UK. Their service, whose > ... > YASUI Ryo > Hyfong Inc. > fax. (+81) 3-3496-2146 > Email: [log in to unmask] I think it may have been in 1990-1991, when Derbyshire Museum Service was very short of money. Derbyshire County Council sold some art from one of the museums in the Service and as a result was expelled from the Museums Association. Closure of loan services is continuing as a result of schools' budgets being delegated to individual schools, rather than being centrally held (i.e. individual schools have to buy the service, rather than being forced to pay for it). Others are continuing very sucessfully. I think that you should contact The Group for Education in Museums (GEM) in the UK, as they will be able to give you more information about Derbyshire, and about loan services in general. I only have an old directory here at home, which gives the secretary as: Susan Morris, 63 Navarino road, LONDON E8 1AG - perhaps someone on museum-l has a more up-to-date contact? -- Patricia Reynolds Keeper of Social History, Buckinghamshire County Museum / Freelance Curator 16 Gibsons Green Heelands Milton Keynes MK13 7NH ENGLAND [log in to unmask]