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Why don't the major museums offer more for non-English speaking visitors? If
they do where are they? Does the lack of effort in this area lead to lower
attendance among resident non-English speakers? among foreign tourists?
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The Smithsonian Museums do offer brochures in many foreign languages (Spanish, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, etc.) for the visitors who feel more comfortable reading in their native language.  These brochures give descriptions of all the different SI museums and some basic information.  They are available in each museum near the entrances at the visitors desks, that are staffed by volunteers/docents.  

Some exhibits at the SI that are specifically about another culture may even offer the brochures in both languages - i.e., Santos: Substance & Soul/Sustancia y Alma offered brochures in English and Spanish throughout the exhibit and the online exhibit (http://www.si.edu/scmre/santos) is also in English and Spanish, as was most of the pr info.  This exhibit also went from the SI to New Mexico and then on to Puerto Rico.

I think that you can request tours in foreign languages too (not sure though) from the SI, but do know that many local DC tour companies do offer tour guides that are fluent in English and one or more foreign languages.  Many of the SI museums do have (or are supposed to have) text, etc. of their audio-tours/films available and do offer signing services for their conferences, seminars that they offer if you call ahead of time.

For those that contact the Smithsonian by snail mail/e-mail in their native language (obviously not English) - the SI has a volunteer translation service available to staff to help translate incoming mail and our responses.

Enjoy!
Ann N'Gadi
Technical Information Specialist
SCMRE

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