Our visitation has been up this year (yea!) which I attribute to the economy
(we've had quite a few folks say they're exploring local sites instead of
traveling), implementing regular hours (previously we were appointment
only), and increased exposure in the community through traveling exhibits
and media coverage.
With only 1 part-time staff and two volunteers, our hours are pretty limited
(Tues-Thurs and two Saturdays a month) but hopefully if attendance continues
to grow and I get some more volunteers, by the end of 2010 we can be open
every Saturday.
We have a perception problem with the safety of our neighborhood so other
than our exhibit openings, no evening programs.
Great to hear what other sites are doing/experiencing! Thanks for sharing!
Julie Carpenter
Executive Director
The Betts House
416 Clark Street
Cincinnati, OH 45203
513-651-0734
[log in to unmask]
www.BettsHouse.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Garet Bleddynn
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 11:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Question on Operating Hours
Good morning, all,
I just had some random questions about operating hours that I wanted
to ask. This is not a part of any project or class-related activity.
It's just for my own personal curiosity and education so you can feel
free to e-mail me privately at [log in to unmask] unless the folks on
the list think this will be helpful.
1. What days of the week and hours are you open?
I know here at the Tennessee State Museum where I am interning, the
museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday through Saturday, the
museum is open from 10am-5pm. On Sunday, the museum is open from
1pm-5pm. I know it seems to me this limits families going to museums.
They would have to attend on either Saturday or Sunday.
I remember reading a paper by Dana in our public history seminar where
he commented on museums' operating hours and locations as needing to
correspond with the communities they seek to serve. This got me to
thinking, always a dangerous thing. If museums are trying to involve
the communities, and if we acknowledge that museums are competing with
other recreational activities for time and money, then maybe we need
to review the hours?
If I work Monday-Friday from 8-5, let's examine my recreational
options. That theme park might be open until anywhere from 7pm-9pm. If
I want to go to a movie, I can go to a 9:00pm or later showing. If I
want to browse the web, that's 24/7. If I want to go to the mall,
that's open until, at least, 9pm, even later now that it's the Holiday
hours.
I just had to wonder. I've seen very large crowds for after-hours
events both at the museum and even at the local zoo. What do you think
your visitation might be like if your hours were 12-8? Also, what kind
of staffing issues do you run into with trying something like this?
Thanks for indulging a graduate student's curiosity!
Garet
--
M. Garet Bleddynn
========================
It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to any pursuit.
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