While I, too, was disappointed to see so few responses to the request for
visitor charters, I fear this may simply be indicative of the low regard
many museums have for Visitor Services -- or even for visitors.  We define
ourselves by our collections and our research, and tolerate the public as
long as they are quiet and, well-behaved, do what we want them to do and
learn what we want them to learn.

Many of us joke "This would be a great place if it weren't for all the
visitors," but much truth is spoken in that jest.  (And no, I still haven't
tracked down the source of that quote.)  What is sadly overlooked is the
fact that visitors are the defining characteristic of our profession.  If
you're not open to the public, you may be a fine collections and research
facility, but you are not a museum.  You'd think we'd pay them a little more
attention.

The reasons for this are many and interesting, and tend to revolve around
issues of professionalism.  (Those professions which require the most skill
and training, and thus tend to accrue the greatest authority, respect, and
salary, tend not to be directly involved with the visitors.)

Opinions?

-- Gene

"According to the laws of quantum mechanics, God can be omnipotent, or He
can be omniscient, but He can't be both."

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