Matthew - I raised my hand when you asked about reports etc never referred
to. I too have them on a shelf in a closet. However (you KNEW there was a
but) I do find myself training new docents, volunteers, and new front line
staff. Visitor charters, program standards, baseline objectives etc. are
all really beneficial training tools for new people.
My 2 cents worth (5 cents Canadian :-) )
Paula Hill
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew White [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 February 2001 09:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: visitor charters
I'd like to echo Jerrie's Sentiments. When this topic came
up the only
question on my mind was "what good would it do?" What
functional difference
would a charter have on the day-to-day operations of a
museum? You either
take it seriously as an institution or you don't, and I
can't see how taking
time out of your already filled schedule to write a charter
will change
that. Yes, it sounds good in theory, but I am slowly getting
cynical about
studies, charters, plans, etc. Too many professionals and
trustees think
writing a report is a substitute for doing the work.
A quick show of hands: How many people have reports from
consultants,
evaluator's reports, plans done in house, and the like on
their office
shelves that were completed and never referred to a again?
That's what I
thought. At a previous gig I had over a foot and a half of
shelf space
devoted to such things and then we hired a consultant to
create a report on
past reports. I felt like I was in a Dilbert cartoon.
Visitor service is not rocket science or even political
science. We know
what needs to be done and there are some fine books,
workshops, etc. If your
institution takes it seriously, you don't need a Visitor's
Charter to tell
you what to do. If your institution does not, I cannot see
how a visitor's
charter will change that. Like I said, it all sounds
reasonable and
righteous in theory, but I just don't see it truly helping
in those
institutions that truly need it.
Just my 2¢.
--
Matthew White
Director of Museums
Mount Washington Observatory
www.mountwashington.org
Jerrie Clarke Wrote:
> While I feel that sometimes too much time is spent
defining every aspect of
> what we do and setting goals we cannot meet because we are
writing reports,
> resolutions, charters and more goals. Why do we need a
visitors' charter
> (said calmly with a curious look on my face and tone in my
voice). Isn't
> the visitor in mind as we design exhibits, write labels,
and present public
> programs?
>
> I don't think it's necessarily indicitive of low regard
for the visitors. I
> think it's just that we have way too much to do already.
>
> Jerrie
>
> Jerrie Clarke
> Curator of Collections
> Valdez Museum
> http://www.alaska.net/~vldzmuse/index.html
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