Evaluation methods and results are reported for the "Man In His Environment" (MIHE) exhibition at Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. The evaluative design included an analysis of both knowledge and attitudes as they relate to the content and objectives of the exhibit. Museum visitors who agreed to participate were tested by questionnaires before…

Written in an informal style, this brief guide to the complexities of copyright law in England is intended for the world of museums and galleries. Particular attention is paid to the day-to-day problems encountered in photographic copyright. (MM)

The author examines (1) the place of museums in the educational process, (2) the "style" in which museums teach, and (3) the need for a school-museum alliance. Ways in which the educational profession can aid in the development of school-museum cooperation are presented, as well as warnings against rigidity and formality in the museum's…

In preparation for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, some of the wax figure scenes of the royal family at Madame Tussaud's Waxworks are being renewed. A bit of the history of Tussaud's is given. The most popular exhibits are named, and technical details are added. (IFS/WGA)

Discusses recent work on scientific institutions in the United States, indicating that although historians have explored the origins of institutions, few have pursued these organizations into their later and perhaps equally complex years. Learned/professional organizations, museums, publications, and philanthropy are among the major topic areas…

A project for elementary school children based on a museum's collection of Alexander Calder's art is described. After studying Calder's works of art, students created their own three-dimensional stabiles, molded clay into animals, and made circus figures from cork, fabric, yarn, and colored paper. (RM)

Inviting students to look, explore, and think, this booklet offers practical ways for teachers to use museums--in particular, the artworks, artifacts, collections, and other materials they contain--as a basis for secondary students' writing. If taking students on field trips is not feasible, educators can adapt most of the activities in the…

The purpose of this hearing was to learn about the activities and initiatives currently funded under the Museum and Library Services Act and to examine issues pertinent to its reauthorization. This report contains statements by the following: (1) Chairman Pete Hoekstra, Subcommittee on Select Education, Committee on Education and the Workforce,…

Like other public institutions, museums strive to make their facilities accessible to people with disabilities, yet these same patrons may be hindered in their use of museum Web sites by electronic accessibility barriers. This presentation demonstrates that access was a primary design factor in the Virtual Museum Tour, part of the Web site of The…

Cooperation Metaphors are sets of rules to support interaction and collaboration between users who want to explore complex content and information together. The rules determine how the collaborative community can be created and managed, how members of the community can operate on their own, or cooperate with other members. Different types of…

This paper explores the representation of taxonomy, systematics and other aspects of science on selected natural history museum Web sites, using two different but related approaches. One uses a series of categories relating to the nature of science (derived from an evaluation of exhibitions) and applies these to each Web site. In essence, this…

As museums throughout the world enter the interactive arena of digital communications, a need has emerged to access strategies of program development that seamlessly interface with existing missions and resources. This paper describes how Project VIEW, a US Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant, collaborates with major…

This book contains puzzles, riddles, illusions, experiments, and games for children ages 9-12. The experiments and activities teach students about the inner workings of their brain. Contents include: (1) "Caverns of Memory"; (2) "Forests of Hidden Treasure"; and (3) "The Puzzle House." (CCM)

This "blueprint for the future," a statement of affirmation and aspiration, centers on five guiding principles for the federal Office of Museum Services (OMS) within the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMS), with some specific steps for putting the principles into action. The blueprint speaks of the Institute of Museum and…

Discusses the role of Jean-Michel Cousteau as designer of the Living Sea Museum, which is located aboard the Queen Mary at Long Beach, California. Also outlines some of the design projects that he plans for the future. (JR)