More than just the exhibits, is the museum personnel who can influence
"kids" to continue visiting and enjoying museums.  I worked at two small
museums in a small town in New Mexico.  The University museum had an
excellent out reach program to local elementary schools, with bus loads
of school children constantly touring the museum. But I rarely saw any of
these young visitors return on their own.  The city museum was a
different story. One of the museum docents was a retired school teacher.
Kids were constantly coming in the museum because of her interaction with
them.  I remember a group of ten year old boys came in one hot summer
afternoon to use the drinking fountain and restrooms.  She spent some
time with them "educating" them on proper museum etiquette, and
explaining the exhibits.  Later in the summer, one by one, the boys would
come in to show her their rock collection and ask questions about the
museum's mineral exhibit.  I think all too often we forget the influence
that volunteers have on our audience.  Museums are more than just exhbits!

-Candy

On Sat, 1 Jun 1996, Jay Smith wrote:

> Mr. Haberstich:
>
> On May 28, you wrote:
>
> "I work in a "free" museum, but seldom see young local visitors who have
> freely chosen to come on their own; they're usually part of a school field
> trip. Most of them would rather be someplace else. Many value entertainment,
> not education, and they would rather pay for something they enjoy than spend
> time engaged in something free that they don't consider relevant to their
> lives."
>
> When I read statements like this I have to wonder whether the museum to which
> you refer isn't failing in its mission to picque the interest of these young
> visitors.  If the students would rather be somewhere else, don't you have an
> obligation to provide a setting where they want to be?  If a museum is not
> relevant to the lives of its audience then what business does it have seeking
> visitors?  Our duty as museum professionals is not to ourselves but to our
> audience--in every facet of the operation from collections management through
> interpretation and exhibits.  You ought to know this by now.