How about including a section of the museum where touching is allowed, then
invite them to touch objects where indicated?

Darryl MacKenzie BSc(CD), MA
Museum Director/ ODHS Administrator
Oliver and District Heritage Society
Box 847, 
Oliver, BC
V0H1T0
250-498-0490


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Laurel Spencer-Forsythe
Sent: May 1, 2007 7:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Positive ways to say "Do not touch"?

A group of educators working in collaboration with museum staff to develop
curriculum materials objected to the negative approach to traditional museum
rules like "don't touch" and "no running." While it was easy enough to put a
positive spin on "no running" and turn it into "walk"-- we are having more
trouble coming up with a positive way of communicating "don't touch" clearly
in written form (this is in a PowerPoint presentation that serves as a field
trip orientation). 

One teacher suggested stating the ways that touching damages works of art
and artifacts, which is a method I've often seen used effectively, BUT we
need a pretty basic directive not an explication of conservation theory.....
The "museum rules" slide is the last slide after a pretty lengthy
presentation (about 80 slides), so the message needs to be brief.

Any great ideas out there you can share?

Thanks!

Laurel Spencer Forsythe
Executive Director
Ruthmere
302 E. Beardsley Ave.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 264-0330

www.ruthmere.org

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