My now eight year old grandson has been addicted to the American Museum of
Natural History for the past four years.  He gets around the exhibits in
the company of adults on his tricycle, as he cannot walk or self propel a
wheelchair because of CP.  The tricycle allows him to approximate the
mobility and independence of an ambulatory child.

Most of the visits are emotionally, intellectually and physically
stimulating.  After an appropriate initial objection to the use of the
tricycle, guards usually respect the uniqueness of the situation or
hesitantly acknowledge the permission granted in a letter from the Museum
administration.  On one occasion a guard and her supervisor would not
permit entry pending further authorization and led my grandson, his able
bodied friend and his mother to a corridor to await a response from above.
After a half hour of repeated assurances of just another minute, the three
decided it was time to leave the museum.  Had this been their first visit
there it probably would have been their last.

Here is a case of an institution that tries to do the right thing and
usually does, but in this instance the good intention was sabotaged by an
insecure and uncertain staff.  My suspicion is that they were new to their
positions and insufficiently cognizant of the ultimate objectives of the
Museum.

When it comes to dealing successfully with special circumstances of
visitors abilities to negotiate the physical constraints of a museum
exhibition, the most important institutional policy is the proper
selection, training and leadership of the guards.  The common practice of
treating "floor staff" as incidental to the objectives of the institution
has led to some museums hiring outside security firms to provide guard
services.

Guards are considered a security issue, lecturers and docents fall under
education and ticket sellers are revenue generators.  Because they are the
folks who have direct contact with the visitors they are the most potent
public relations instrument of any museum.

David Hupert

=========================================================
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).