Backpacks carry a particular risk of causing damage. There is a much greater risk of inadvertantly knocking into an object with a back pack because the person carrying it is considerably less aware of where the bag is than if they have a bag they carry in their hand.
We ban backpacks at our historic houses for this reason.
Both people carrying bags and lockers pose security risks from a terrorist perspective (although the risks are different). Bags carried round with you can also pose a risk from a theft point of view.
Trevor Reynolds
Collections Registrar, English Heritage
Room G01, 23 Savile Row, London, W1S 2ET, UK
tel: +44 (0)20 7973 3482 fax: +44 (0)20 7973 3001 (GTN 3503 3482)
>>> Lori Allen <[log in to unmask]> 01/11 4:42 pm >>>
Concerning the use of lockers, personally I hate it. If I am carrying the
bag, I must be doing so for a reason and having to put it in a locker
defeats that reason entirely. Frankly, in Europe, I have never been asked
to leave my bag. Have staff check it going in and out, yes, but leave it
somewhere, no. I know many people who feel the same way and some that feel
the opposite: they see lockers as a convenience. You'll get some of both,
no doubt.
However, I understand that there just some environments where it is a safety
issue for the collections to have people with large bags wondering around
(due to space constraints). I think this needs to be explained UP FRONT. I
especially like the parking lot idea. It really pisses me off to have to
walk back to the car because they won't let my all-in-one purse/diaper bag
backpack in the museum. (Actually I left, because no mother in her right
mind would go anywhere with an 8 month old and no diaper bag,)
My biggest peeve however, is that many museums seem to discriminate based on
age of carrier or type of bag. I have been asked to leave my backpack when
older women with purses the same size are not asked to leave theirs. And
when I did carry a large purse-type diaper bag combo, I wasn't asked to
leave it and others with school backpacks on were asked to leave theirs.
Inconsistency looks very discriminatory.
I would think that being up front and consistent would be key. Also, why
are you asking for people to put their bags in lockers? If it is due to
space constraints, I think most people will understand and accepting. If it
is because you think someone might bring something in or out of the museum,
I think bag checking is a much better solution personally.
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Panza, Robin
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 10:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Security concerns and storage lockers
>>>>From: Richard Fields [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
With that said, could anyone give information on storage lockers for
museums-historic sites? Do the public balk at using them or is it just
accepted. <<<<
When I went to Fallingwater (a Frank Lloyd Wright historic house in SW
Pennsylvania), there was a person at the entrance to the property, before we
even reached the parking lot, handing out slips of paper. The slip stated
that bulky purses, camera bags, etc. would absolutely not be allowed in and
to be sure to leave them in the car.
You don't need to buy lockers if you do it that way.
Robin K Panza
Section of Birds, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
phone: 412-622-3255
fax: 412-622-8837
[log in to unmask]
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
_________________________________________________________________
This e-mail is intended solely for the above-mentioned recipient
and it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you
have received it in error, please notify us immediately and delete
the e-mail. You must not copy, distribute, disclose or take any
action in reliance on it.
English Heritage
Telephone 020 7973 3000
Facsimile 020 7973 3001
_________________________________________________________________
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
