Included in an internal message to the Smithsonian staff on September 14, the following paragraph was included:

"We have placed books at museum information desks so visitors can record
  their thoughts on these trying times.  We will keep these reflections
  because they are part of our history."

In view of last week's tragic events, we can expect that museums will have many visitors who are feeling upset, vulnerable and helpless.  One way in which museum could actively respond to this possibility is by providing them with opportunities to
express their feelings, thoughts and grief.  Comment books -- or comment pages -- are one option.  Museums, beyond the Smithsonian, are seen as the keepers of the Nation's history and as places of collective remembrance.  This is another option of reaching out.



Katherine Khalife wrote:

> As America and the 60 other nations who lost loved ones in the World Trade
> Center and Pentagon attacks try to regain their equilibrium and deal with
> grief, anger and apprehension, museums are using their expertise, their
> facilities and their collections to reach out and help their communities to
> cope and to heal.
>
> A few of these efforts have been mentioned in newspaper articles already
> referenced on this list, but I'm sure there are many more that have not
> received wide-scale publicity. I would like to highlight as many as possible
> in this month's issue of the Museum Marketing Tips e-newsletter and would
> appreciate hearing from you. What is your institution doing in the aftermath
> of last week's tragedy to reach out to your community? What have you planned?
>
> Many thanks,
> Katherine Khalife
> Museum Marketing Tips
> http://www.museummarketingtips.com
> [log in to unmask]
>
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