In addition to those comments so far, we did our ADA evaluation years
ago, and as a result added "touch" stations with selected reproductions
of some of our more popular artifacts. In one example we have an antique
car whose squeeze bulb horn was too hard to resist honking, so we
installed a "touch" station next to it with a reproduction horn. The
kids love honking the "old" horn, it irritates the educators, but the
net result is that the real horn does not get abused nearly as much as
it did. We left the "Do Not Touch" sign on the car, but it still
occasionally gets honked.

Scott Mosher
Operations and Design
Maine State Museum
83 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0083
207-287-6695


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Sarah Rowand
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 11:43 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Positive ways to say "Do not touch"?

I do tell them "Please do not touch" because I think you have to be very
specific, but I always follow it up with a positive statement of what
they should do:
"Look with your eyes, not with your hands." I add things like: "Please
keep your hands at your side" or "Hold onto your partner's hand". 

Sometimes, I try to recognize ahead of time that they may really have
the urge to touch and I try to give them alternative things to do when
that urge comes: "I know that the objects may look especially shiny and
smooth, but instead of rubbing your hands on them, think of words to
describe how they look. Tell your partner what you see. Try to figure
out at least 2 words to describe it."

Sometimes, I give them each something to hold related to whatever they
are looking at, with the idea that if their hands are busy,they won't be
touching! Ideas
include: a picture of something to look for, a "looking glass" or empty
frame to look through."
Oftentimes, the prop I give them encourages looking, again to emphasize
what they SHOULD be doing (looking) instead of what they shouldn't
(touching).

Your young visitors would probably also benefit from a hands-on
demonstration of why they shouldn't touch.
Show them a prop (like a brass door knob) that has been touched many
times and one that hasn't. Ask them to describe the differences. Ask
them why they think they shouldn't touch. The more hands-on and
interactive the explanation, the more meaningful it will be to the
students. 

If you have time, have the students "teach" each other the rules. Divide
the students into small groups, give each group an index card with a
rule on it. Give them props to use. Ask them to act out or demonstrate
this rule to the whole group. 



--- Laurel Spencer-Forsythe <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> A group of educators working in collaboration with museum staff to 
> develop curriculum materials objected to the negative approach to 
> traditional museum rules like "don't touch" and "no running." While it

> was easy enough to put a positive spin on "no running" and turn it 
> into
> "walk"-- we are having more
> trouble coming up with a positive way of communicating "don't touch" 
> clearly in written form (this is in a PowerPoint presentation that 
> serves as a field trip orientation).
> 
> One teacher suggested stating the ways that touching damages works of 
> art and artifacts, which is a method I've often seen used effectively,

> BUT we need a pretty basic directive not an explication of 
> conservation theory.....
> The "museum rules" slide is the last slide after a pretty lengthy 
> presentation (about 80 slides), so the message needs to be brief.
> 
> Any great ideas out there you can share?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Laurel Spencer Forsythe
> Executive Director
> Ruthmere
> 302 E. Beardsley Ave.
> Elkhart, IN 46514
> (574) 264-0330
> 
> www.ruthmere.org
> 
>
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