Best Example of why not to touch is the touch exhibit at Hearst Castle  
that shows what touching does to things.


On Jun 21, 2008, at 8:06 PM, Micki Ryan wrote:

> Last season I experimented in our small historical museum with  
> permitting visitors to handle one item if they put on the white  
> gloves.  They seemed really respectful and honored to do so, no  
> matter what their age. This season I tried it in another area, and  
> can tell the gloves are used because they are placed in a different  
> position each time I do a walk-through (visitors are unsupervised  
> unless we have a walk-around docent that day). I change them out  
> every few days, and will do so every day as our numbers increase  
> with summer. Visitors will stop at the desk and thank the volunteer  
> for the opportunity to handle the two items.  We also have a journal  
> out for visitors to leave stories in our oral history exhibit. In  
> the same oral history room, which has both lots of text to read and  
> a scheduled real live historic treasure to tell stories and respond  
> to questions, I have a large set of Lincoln Logs for young visitors  
> (and old) to build their own log cabin inside our historic log  
> cabins.  The Lincoln Logs definitely take the edge off the urge to  
> touch.  This year I found much less touching of exhibit items by  
> creating wider “paths” through the log cabins that clearly mark the  
> boundaries between visitor and exhibit.  I do put cautionary labels  
> that include educational information on items placed close to the  
> visitor path.
>
> As we are currently open only in the summertime, I rarely get school  
> visits.
>
> Micki Ryan, Director
> Orcas Island Historical Museum
> [log in to unmask]
> PO Box 134
> Eastsound WA 98245
> 360 376 4849
> www.orcasmuseum.org
>
>
>
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  
> On Behalf Of Janice Armstrong
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 8:15 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: "do not touch" labels
>
> I recently had 450 5th graders come through our small house museum.  
> I put on my white gloves and explained that the dirt and oil on  
> their hands damages the artifacts so please don't touch. They were  
> so respectful of things that I had to make a special point of  
> telling them they could touch the handrail on the windy stairs on  
> their way up!
>
> Janice Armstrong
> Fleming Castle Museum
> Flemington NJ
> www.flemingcastle.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Debra Loguda-Summers
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 11:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] "do not touch" labels
>
> We also found that the "do not touch" signs really didn't do any  
> good.  Also the velvet ropes don't see to keep "those people" out  
> either :)
> We find that it is easier just to do a gentle reminder when people  
> are walking around.
>
> Debra Loguda-Summers, Curator
> Still National Osteopathic Museum and National Center for  
> Osteopathic History
> 800 West Jefferson
> Kirksville, MO 63501
> Phone: 660 626 2359
> Fax: 660 626 2984
> Toll Free: 1 866 626 ATSU Ext. 2359
> [log in to unmask]
> www.atsu.edu/museum
>
> The Mission of the Still National Osteopathic Museum is to collect,  
> preserve, and make available artifacts and related materials to  
> communicate the history and philosophy about the osteopathic  
> principles of mind, body and spirit to a global audience.
>
>
>
> >>> "Jackson, Gregory" <[log in to unmask]> 6/18/2008 9:43 AM >>>
> I have found that, at best, "do not touch" signs are only a gentle  
> reminder.  Some people will touch regardless - they can't help  
> themselves.  The same people, I'm sure, that touch the paint to see  
> if the "Wet Paint" sign is really telling the truth.  If velvet  
> ropes aren't an option for you (or something similar), a  
> psychological boundary may help.  Just position the objects so it is  
> a little awkward for a guest to reach them.  Many people will avoid  
> touching if it is very obvious that they are doing so.
>
> Greg
>
> Pottsgrove Manor Historic Site
>
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]  
> On Behalf Of Heidi Campbell-Shoaf
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:17 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [MUSEUM-L] "do not touch" labels
>
> I just opened a new exhibit in which there are several pieces of  
> furniture on display as well as glass, ceramics, artwork, etc. All  
> of the small, fragile items are under vitrines but the furniture  
> pieces are simply on risers. When reviewing the exhibit with our  
> docents, they expressed concern that I did not have "do not touch"  
> signs on the furniture.  I've used these signs in the past but I am  
> wondering about their effectiveness. I've observed both at my museum  
> and at others, that some people will touch regardless of signage.   
> I've also noticed that most larger museums I've visited do not have  
> these signs at all.  Our museum experience is guided tour only and  
> the docents are trained to remind visitors not to touch items on  
> exhibit. The new exhibition can be self-guided but the vast majority  
> of the time there will be a docent in the room with the visitor.
>
> I'd like to hear about other's experience with "do not touch" signs  
> and whether they work or just clutter up an exhibit and have little  
> effectiveness.
>
> Heidi Campbell-Shoaf, Curator
> Museum of Frederick County History
> Historical Society of Frederick County
> 24 East Church Street
> Frederick, Md. 21701
> www.hsfcinfo.org
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