Yes, many people have done research toward identifying the cost of curating collections in perpetuity. The NPS even has a web site with information on that subject. I don't think there's an accepted "industry standard" for this cost. IMHO, a museum manager would be making a large mistake to buy into such a concept. We have collections left with us by the feds, which may be theirs or may be ours, 50 years ago. A one time payment for storage in perpetuity leaves your successor(s) with a massive problem when they move to a new building, the cost of heat, lights and staff go up, etc. A much better course would be to establish the ongoing cost of management and renegotiate that periodically. The cost of storing a pound of arrowheads today, properly, including inventory, repackaging, moving it to the new building, and the like, is much more than it was in 1948, and much less than it will be in 2048. Chris Dill - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C. L. Dill, Museum Director State Historical Society of North Dakota 612 East Boulevard Bismarck ND 58505-0830 USA P: (701)328-2666 F: (701)328-3710 E: [log in to unmask] Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -