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I'm writing to see if you might be interested in writing up a very brief summary of key monthly discussions on the gem-list. I am the editor and publisher of Museum Education Monitor (MEM), a bi-monthly electronic publication that provides links to the ongoing research and information already available both online and in print for museum educators and researchers around the world. Because MEM is produced by free-lancers there is a small subscription fee of $25 CAD per year, which includes access to the searchable database of back issues (for more info http://www.mccastle.com/subscribe.asp). I am happy to offer a complimentary subscription to any regular contributor. Beyond listing ephemeral information like job openings and conferences, listerv discussions reveal a great deal about the vital daily interests of museum educators. Although the gem-Archives is a useful resource, a summary brings the element of immediate reflection to the discussion and helps to organize it for future use. The summary also draws the attention of educators in other countries to the valuable work of the Group for Education in Museums. Here's an example of a summary that Kris Wetterlund, one of the owners of the American listserv museum-ed, contributed to the Museum Education Monitor: "MUSEUM-ED [Thanks to Kris Wetterlund for supplying these summaries. For more info see the museum-ed archives at http://www.museum-ed.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?flavor=archive;list=talk ] March 2005 Topic: Internships A request for information about how much museums typically pay interns triggered a spirited discussion about paid versus unpaid internships in museums. One student discussion list member wrote: "I have much more respect for myself than to give away my skills for free." Unfortunately the majority of museum educators who responded had done unpaid internships at the beginning of their careers, and so felt especially defensive. While students bemoaned the difficulties of paying for college credits when internships are part of the class, essentially paying to work without pay, museum educators pointed out the administrative costs of caring for and supervising interns in museums, and the unfortunate occasions when the museums give more than they get in return from an intern. In the end, the majority agreed that unpaid internships are worthwhile, and several museums educators said they do pay interns whenever they can." Listserv summaries are catalogued for the MEM online searchable database and so remain available well beyond the life on one issue. Please let me know if you would like any further information or a complimentary copy of the Museum Education Monitor to get a better idea of what it is we do. Cheers, Chris M. Christine Castle, Ph.D. Editor, Museum Education Monitor [log in to unmask] To subscribe, please go to http://www.mccastle.com/subscribe.asp