As published in ArtNexus; I wondered how much longer they could afford those metal clasps that are so emblematic of that GREAT institution: The MET!   Heard on The Street  The Metropolitan Museum of Art bids goodbye to the iconic clasps used as entry tickets  15/July/2013 United States, New York Institution: Metropolitan Museum of Art Since Monday, July 1st, the emblematic clasps used by the MET as admission tickets will be replaced by paper stickers, after 42 years in use. The decision was based on the cost to the museum of producing the clasps. These were presented in 16 colors and carried the symbol of a letter M. Paper stickers will also have colors, but their production costs a third of that of the clasps. This new policy is accompanied by the decision of opening the museum on Mondays, the day of the week when for many years it was closed. Now, the MET will open seven days a week and visitors will be admitted every day. Hours of operation are also changing: up to now, the museum doors opened at 9:30 am. Now, they will open at 10:00 am.   For more information, visithttp://www.metmuseum.org/visit/hours-and-admission