Susan M. Rossi-Wilcox, curator of the Botanical Museum, home of Harvard's one-of-a-kind glass flowers, agrees that her artifacts are not entirely safe.

"For us, in terms of the glass flowers, anytime you have glass objects in glass cases, there is the potential for damage," she said.

The question for University officials is to determine the reasonable level of care without incurring exorbitant costs.

"Universities are required to take reasonable care of the things that have been entrusted to their possession," said University attorney Alan A. Ryan Jr. "The whole concept of reasonableness is not so much that its vague, but its very flexible."

Part of the definition, he said, is that "things that are more important receive more attention."

But some sources said curators and their collections do not receive sufficient attention from the rest of the University.

"The tendency for each individual museum is for each to do a thing on its own," said Green. "[But] we share many of the same sorts of problems."

Although curators share problems, they differ on solutions.

Some museum officials, like Green, would like to see biennial security evaluations performed by outside companies. The cost of such an evaluation is about $2,000, according to Sgt. Fennelley.

"I think it would be a good idea partly because it brings an outside voice with a different perspective," Green said.

Yet, Peabody Museum Assistant Director Lawrence J. Flynn said he is satisfied with the current system.

"The security teams are all wonderful and [I hope we] keep them functioning well," said Flynn.

Security Problems

Officials at Harvard Museums were unwilling to talk about their specific problems because they feared details might compromise their security.

But one evident problem is the use of sprinkler systems in collections which would be irreparably damaged by humidity and water.