By "tripartite", I assume you mean the three-layer label. Beverly Serrell,
with whom I agree in almost every other particular re:labels, hates them. I
really like them, BUT

The title has to be short and eye-catching (for the streakers)
The next stage has to convey, as succinctly as possible, the main message of
the artifact or exhibit (for the strollers)
The third stage, while somewhat longer than the second, should not be too
long (for the residue).

Also, it is critical, especially in a history museum, for visitor to have a
strong sense of where they are in time in space, hence the need to augment
these with large eye-level text panels to do this.

We did a lot of experimenting at the Canadian Museum of Civilization before
we "got it right" but it was VERY effective when we did. We also
experimented with attaching a backlit miniature copy of an historic painting
to further illustrate the exhibit, in some cases. I wish we had done more!

I never used to be interested all that much in labels, until I hit one
Australian museum with its 10 point Times Roman, black on dark royal blue.
Now I give workshops on improving signage and labels!!!

Harry

"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you
are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup"

Harry Needham
President
Harry Needham Consulting Services Inc.
Training & consulting services for heritage institutions
74 Abbeyhill Drive
Kanata, Ontario K2L 1H1
Canada
email: [log in to unmask]
(Voice) +1.613.831-1068
(Fax) +1.613.831-9412
----- Original Message -----
From: Laura Petznick <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 12:45 PM
Subject: Exhibition TExt/LABELS


> Museum labeling is a bit of a pet-peeve of mine. I fully recognize that
the
> general public generally prefers concise labels with only the most
> significant information, however as a perpetual student, I often find
myself
> craving MORE!!!
>
> I have developed some technical ways around this problem but remain
> interested in knowing your opinions on the subject. (I perhaps should
state
> that I am familiar with published opinions on the subject.)
>
> At the TAM/KAM (TN Assoc. of Museums and the KY Assoc. of Museums)
> conference last week, Sharilyn Reec
> of the NEA suggested using several labels with different voices to appeal
to
> different audiences (e.g. a label from a curator, one from a child and one
> from a "typical" visitor). For those of you who create and design museum
> text for labels and exhibits, what do you think of the "tripartite" label?
>
> Just curious.
>
> Laura Petznick, Ph.D.
> \
>
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