Hi All,

As someone in visitor services who works with Protection
staff, I suggest people stop thinking of each department in
a museum as discrete.  This is not a task for
security/protection OR visitors services, but a matter of:

(1) regular cross-training sessions with visitor services
(or public relations) department/personnel on how to deal
with visitors appropriately and effectively -- which
includes not hovering over visitors as if they are about to
damage or steal an artifact or work of art.  Obviously,
security/protection staff must not be responsible for
answering questions about the art/artifacts, as they must
focus on security issues . . . but they should be able to
suggest resources (library, personnel, etc.) in a friendly
manner.

ALSO,

(2) a less formal/imposing uniform -- as in "The Changing of
the Guards" (ARTnews, March 2001).  The Museum of
Contemporary Art in Chicago, the Los Angeles County Museum
of Art, Mint Art Museum, etc. have all shifted to a more
down-to-earth, street-clothes kind of uniform.

Sincerely,

Jay Heuman, Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300 (telephone)     342-2376 (fax)       www.joslyn.org



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Ross Weeks
> Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2001 9:38 am
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: security officers and "hosts"
>
>
> Wouldn't the security contractor consider not requiring
"uniforms" for
> personnel on duty?  That has worked elsewhere and also is
my personal
> experience.  The museum could, if necessary, provide
blazers & slacks.
>
> If appearance is the only concern, security people can
work just as
> well without an uniform.  If having an interactive host is
the concern,
> then that would be a function of visitor services.
>
> Ross Weeks Jr.
> Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park
> Tazewell, Va.
> http://histcrab.netscope.net

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