We have signs around the museum with handprints on them and these signs
indicate what "Can be touched."  When school groups tour we go thru the
basics and show them the gloves we wear to handle the artifacts and talk
a little about how the oils from our hands and dirt can cause added
deterioration to the objects...then we show them the handprint sign that
will let them know what hands-on items "can be touched". The kids are
always intrigued by the idea and do very well.  

Becca

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Laurel Spencer-Forsythe
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 9:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Positive ways to say "Do not touch"?

A group of educators working in collaboration with museum staff to
develop
curriculum materials objected to the negative approach to traditional
museum
rules like "don't touch" and "no running." While it was easy enough to
put a
positive spin on "no running" and turn it into "walk"-- we are having
more
trouble coming up with a positive way of communicating "don't touch"
clearly
in written form (this is in a PowerPoint presentation that serves as a
field
trip orientation). 

One teacher suggested stating the ways that touching damages works of
art
and artifacts, which is a method I've often seen used effectively, BUT
we
need a pretty basic directive not an explication of conservation
theory.....
The "museum rules" slide is the last slide after a pretty lengthy
presentation (about 80 slides), so the message needs to be brief.

Any great ideas out there you can share?

Thanks!

Laurel Spencer Forsythe
Executive Director
Ruthmere
302 E. Beardsley Ave.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 264-0330

www.ruthmere.org

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