Data on curatorial budgets and hiring practices of the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum of Natural History since 1970 are discussed relative to those of academic departments in the College of Biological Sciences. Concludes that a natural history museum is best viewed and administered as a university resource and responsibility rather than as…

Discusses the Association of Systematics Collections' efforts to provide programs and resources to help institutions meet the challenge of maintaining natural history collections. (MDH)

This article suggests that one way to involve the viewer of a museum exhibition in the balance between accessibility and scholarship is to approach the exhibition not so much as a lecture but as a conversation. References research done on the differences between male and female styles of communication. (LZ)

Description of the History Computerization Project, which is being developed for the exchange of information between researchers, librarians, archivists, museum curators, preservation groups, and historical societies, focuses on workshops that teach the use of computer database management for historical cataloging and research. (LRW)

Presents suggestions to help teachers enhance class trips to the museum, noting today's museum outreach programs are very useful. After describing what museums have to offer, the article explains how to plan such a trip and how to make the trip run smoothly. A list of must-see museums is included. (SM)

Responds to controversies over the 1992 New York exhibit by the National Museum of the American Indian. Discusses the museum's role as institution of living culture rather than exhibitor of "artifacts" or scientific specimens, the exhibit's aim of promoting intercultural dialog, and the right to define one's own cultural identity as a…

When the Smithsonian Institution recently acquired a new financial management system, the concept of prototyping was used throughout the process, but in a broader sense than in software development. It was used to refine requirements, establish software management techniques, test a logistical system, and implement and apply the package. (MSE)

Discusses the design of the National Taiwan University Digital Library and Museum that addresses both content and knowledge management. Describes a two-tier repository architecture that facilitates content management, includes an object-oriented model to facilitate the management of temporal information, and eliminates the need to manually…

Describes the "Newseum," a recently opened museum in Arlington, Virginia, dedicated to journalism and freedom of speech. Lists its highlights: free admission, an interactive newsroom, a 126-foot video wall, a news history gallery, a domed theater with a 20-by-40-foot high-definition video screen, and "The Freedom Wall." (PA)

Discusses the use of museum collections for scientific inquiry and describes a project that investigated ways in which museum Web sites can be expanded to support learning through scientific inquiry. Describes a content analysis of museum Web sites and the development of a Web site to provide access to museum collection items. (LRW)

Discusses incorporating interactive multimedia into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Presents examples of interactive exhibits from other museums and suggests ideas for the Hall of Fame to pursue: simulations of batting, signal use, and umpiring; a quiz show; a visitor poll; CD-ROM software; and an interactive database.…

Several New England groups are breeding and marketing "heritage livestock"--older, multipurpose breeds that are hardier and more disease resistant than modern livestock bred for specialized uses. Hancock Shaker Village (Massachusetts)--a historical museum and working farm--will teach visitors about heritage breeds and sustainable…

Presents a discussion on the interpretations of museums and zoos. Introduces the applications of living history, museum theater and explains the terms interactors, explainers, and curators; keepers; and technicians. Lists the locations having the explained applications. Includes 29 references. (YDS)

Reports on a project that applied existing metadata formats to Kent State University Museum's collection of fashionable and traditional costumes from the 18th through the 20th centuries. From a set of 90 museum accession records, 42 fashion objects were selected for cataloging, and three metadata treatments were created for these items. (AEF)