LISNews: Librarian News

For scores of historic house museums, simply keeping the lights on has become a challenge. The Mount, Wharton's home in Lenox, MA, portrayed as part of a mural in the article below, is trying to stave off foreclosure with a major fundraising campaign. The Mark Twain House in Hartford can't even afford to buy energy-saving light bulbs that would slash its electric bill. Some of the financial strain is due to previous overspending; the Twain House Executive Director admits that a $19 million visitor center that opened in 2003 was too ambitious and costly.

Experts say this summer may make or break some sites, many of which already have cut their hours and staff and are struggling for donations in today's troubled economy. Chicago Sun Times.