I'll save time and respond to two items:
We have a sign that works well for us.  It reads "If you do not run your 
fingers over our vehicles, we will not run our vehicles over your fingers. 
Please no touching.".  It gets a laugh, it gets spouses to elbow each other 
and it sets the tone that we want visitors to have fun, but not to touch. 
We also remind people as we enter the historic building on the guided tour 
portion of their visit not to touch, pick up, lean on anything (unless they 
brought it with them).  This too gets a laugh and helps to reinforce the 
message.

The Museum also has a portable panic alarm.  It is kept at the front desk 
but worn by any volunteer who feels the "need", it clips into a waistband. 
It can be used for medical emergencies as well as personal safety.  We got 
it as part of an alarm overhaul when the technician suggested it.  This has 
worked particularly well for my older women docents who are leery of giving 
guided tours to single men.  And only had it "tested" once, (very) temporary 
employee pushed the button, because it said "PUSH".

Bronwen Sanders, Mifflinburg Buggy Museum

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kimberly Kenney, Curator" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 1:54 PM
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] "a museum is not a playground" language


Would anyone like to share the language you use in tour maps or on signs to 
help educate your visitors about how to behave in a museum?

Also, how do staff and volunteers at your museum address inappropriate 
behavior?  Do you have a phrase that seems to work well?  What are the 
consequences of bad behavior?

Thanks!
Kim

Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator
Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW
Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043   * Visit our NEW WEBSITE at 
http://www.mckinleymuseum.org
      "Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict; 
and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of 
war." -- 25th United States President William McKinley




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