-----Original Message-----
From: John Martinson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
I totally agree that a museum could reply to the visitor, "We don't have the

answer, please, can you leave your name and address and we will get back
to you as soon as possible."   However, how many people are going to give
out their address or care enough to wait for an answer.


Ah, but that puts the onus on the visitor.  If you really want to know, give
us a means to get you the info.  I have no problem with that.  If the
visitor doesn't want to wait, doesn't want to report to the education
department office (or entrance desk, or wherever else you say you'll leave
the info when you find out), doesn't want to leave an address or phone
number, so be it.  We have still done our best to educate them.  We have
fulfilled our mission.

Meanwhile, our docent has found the correct answer for the *next time*
someone asks that question, so it hasn't been a waste of his time.  We
curator-sorts who provided the answer (or looked it up) have been made aware
of the deficiency in our exhibit labelling or docent training.   All in all,
it's been a useful project for the museum.

just my 2 cents,
Robin

Robin K Panza                         [log in to unmask]
Collection Manager, Section of Birds          ph:  412-622-3255
Carnegie Museum of Natural History       fax: 412-622-8837
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh  PA  15213-4008  USA

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