We have had website access in past exhibitions, and are currently
developing a series of computer internet workstations for public use.
What we have done is given (on paper) the addresses of recommended
sites, and bookmarked the ones we are encouraging visitors to check
out. Even so, the most popular aspect (at least to some - dare I say
primarily teenagers?) of internet access is the chat lines or chat
rooms. There is little you can do to deter this from clever folks,
but having staff (or in our case volunteers) around the exhibits
ensuring that appropriate material is being displayed/discussed, and
that any one visitor does not monopolize the workstation for too long,
seems to be the only real control. Yes, we've tried Cyberpatrol and
such guardian software, but any serious (even half-serious) hacker can
easily get around that. Beyond doing the above, we tend to put our
trust in our public, and hope for the best.
Science centres have long had public internet access on the floor, so
you might want to check with ASTC, or Webhead-L.
Regards,
George Wurtak
Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature
__________________________________________________
Peter Stevenson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I am developing an exhibit of Philippine artifacts to open next summer. I
>would like to make a computer available to visitors who would like to do
>some exhibit-theme related surfing, as there are many quality web sites
>devoted to the Philippines and Filipinos. I am, however, concerned with
>striking a balance between open-ended exploration and controlling access to
>non-exhibit related sites. I realize that the value of the internet is its
>freewheeling character, but I don't know that museums should provide
>unrestricted access. Does anyone have experience with providing world wide
>web access in an exhibit? How have you approached/solved this dilemma?
>Thanks,
>Peter B. Stevenson
>Exhibit Developer
>Field Museum/Chicago
>[log in to unmask]
>"Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time."
> --Steven Wright
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