At the Nixon Library we looked into audio tours a few years back, but the
expense of it made it prohibitive.  The Library is self-guided; we offer
school groups and other larger groups docent tours.  The human touch
seems to be the best.  I think that the audio tour can be helpful when it
includes more technical information about a specific item.  My experience
has been that I feel railroaded into looking at things and I don't get
the feeling that I've stayed long enough to enjoy an object, or the
exhibition layout itself.  The audio tour "herds" you along.  The best
thing is for the listener to have good control of the item, that one feel
encouraged to stop the tape or pause the narration whenever one feels
like it; then the natural pace of the visit can take over.

O
Olivia S. Anastasiadis