Dear Kathy: First, if you haven't already done this, I'd suggest you join the Association of Youth Museums. They publish a directory which lists a lot of statistical information about children's museums and you can pick up a lot of information if you read through it. AYM 1775 K Street NW Suite 595 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 466-4144 e-mail: [log in to unmask] Second, AYM is publishing a resource guide for start-up children's museums this fall and you may wish to purchase a copy. It will contain articles on many of the subjects you ask questions about in your e-mail. Third, briefly, a few of the children's museums I know of which share space are: 1) Albuquerque Children's Museum. Opened independently but recently merged with that city's science center. Call Lisa Gorence for information (505) 842-1537. 2) The Family Museum of Arts and Sciences. Bettendorf, Iowa. Began as a regional history museum, then became a children's museum, recently merged with the library and is part of the city now. Call director Tracy Kuehl (319 344-4106. 3) Arizona Museum for Youth. Opened as private nonprofit but later became part of the city of Mesa. Call director Barbara Meyerson (602) 644-2468. 4) Children's Museum of Virginia. Began as a private nonprofit but later transferred operations to the city of Portsmouth. They are part of the city's department of museums which includes 3 other museums. Call M.E. Burnell (804) 393-8983. I think all of the above examples still term temselves "public/private partnerships" which means they all do some kind of fund raising and are not totally depenedent on funding from city government, etc. Good Luck. Mary Maher, editor Hand to Hand, a quarterly publication of the Association of Youth Museums and the AYM Start-Up Guide.