Well said.
According to John Martinson:
>
> At 05:27 PM 5/8/96 EDT, you wrote:
> > I too have been following this thread (an appropriate metaphor for a
> >glove discussion) with interest and some dismay. Pardon me for being
> >hardnosed and unequivocal, but I think this is a no-brainer. A museum
> >professional simply cannot--must not--should not--dare not--knowingly
> >permit anyone to mishandle collection material. To do so is
> >unprofessional and is poor stewardship. A volunteer who refuses to
> >cooperate and follow instructions and professional, approved procedures
> >is indeed a "goriller" and in my opinion could be "fired" for
> >insubordination. Who needs such a volunteer? Now if you can't bear to
> >get rid of the uncooperative volunteer because he/she is otherwise nice,
> >fun, rich, or influential, just take the material away that they
> >mishandle and let them do something safe like filing office
> >correspondence or answering phones.
> >  Seriously, it's often possible to wean people away from the material
> >that they are not handling properly, give them something else, and do it
> >tactfully. I've had the problem of volunteers and interns who mean well
> >but just don't have the manual dexterity to handle certain kinds of
> >objects safely. If you don't have the tact and human qualities to
> >interact with people, plus the will power to protect your collection
> >from mishandling--whether by marauders or bunglers--you don't have any
> >business supervising volunteers in a museum environment.
> >   Now that I've addressed the gloveless volunteer problem, perhaps
> >someone can help with the problem of STAFF who won't wear gloves at the
> >appropriate times.
> >  I once pulled rank on a new employee who was uncooperative and refused
> >to wear gloves while working with glass photographic negatives;
> >admittedly, he was conscientiously trying to hold them only by the
> >edges, but in so doing he was risking dropping and breaking them. I
> >wrote a strong "or else" memo, he apologized, and complied. But then
> >there was the CONSERVATOR whose full handprint is still visible on one
> >of my color photographs because this person pressed an ungloved hand on
> >the surface to emphasize a point. It's my understanding that this person
> >still doesn't wear gloves with photographs. Any reactions? --David
> >Haberstich
> >
> >
> _____________________________________________________________________________
> John Martinson                          [log in to unmask]
> Work: Fort Walla Walla Museum           School: Norwich University (VT)
> 755 Myra Rd
> Walla Walla, WA  99364                  (509) 525-7703 (Work)
>
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>